Maryland Nursing Home Lawyer Blog
Although most people would prefer not to have their loved ones move into a Maryland nursing home, there is often little choice in the matter. As a result, nursing homes have become commonplace in Maryland and across the country. When a family trusts a nursing home to care for an aging loved one they assume, at a minimum, that their loved ones will receive the appropriate care.
The Standard of Care in Nursing Homes
Nursing homes are required to provide a certain level of care to residents. This is called the “standard of care.” The applicable standard of care varies based on the particular jurisdiction, and is often based upon local, state, and federal laws and regulations. Generally, although a nursing home cannot guarantee the safety of its residents, a nursing home must exercise reasonable care so that residents do not suffer physical injury and unnecessary mental distress. The applicable standard depends on the resident’s condition, which has to be evaluated by the nursing home, and addressed in properly caring for the resident. That means that if a resident has special needs, the nursing home should provide appropriate treatment and supervision to meet the standard of care for that particular resident.
Veteran’s Administration Nursing Home Among the Nation’s Worst
An internal report from the Department of Veterans Affairs found that a Veterans Affairs nursing home in Brockton, Massachusetts had “blatant disregard” for veteran safety, according to one news source. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) began its investigation of the facility after a nurse brought her concerns to the VA’s attention. Residents at the VA nursing home in Brockton were almost three times more likely to develop bedsores than residents at private nursing homes, and were generally more likely to experience serious pain.
The nurse who blew the whistle filed a complaint with the government after her supervisor ignored her concerns. She explained that staff failed to empty the bedside urinals of residents, failed to provide them with clean water, failed to regularly check on residents, and often slept on the job. Indeed, investigators later found a nurse and a nurse’s aide sleeping during their shifts.
The agency gave the nursing home a rating of one star, the lowest rating under the agency’s rating system. News sources revealed the VA’s quality ratings in June, which were previously secret. The ratings indicated that over 100 of VA nursing homes had worse ratings than the average rating at private nursing homes on many quality indicators.
Is Your Loved One at Risk?
If you believe that a loved one is being neglected or abused at a Maryland nursing home, other residents are likely being neglected or abused as well. Take a stand and call an experienced personal injury attorney who can advise you on the proper steps to take to put an end to the abuse. At Lebowitz & Mzhen, LLC, our personal injury attorneys will gladly assist you with bringing a legal claim against those who are responsible. If you believe a loved one who is living at a nursing home in Maryland, Virginia or the Washington, D.C. area may be suffering from abuse or neglect, call us for a free, no-obligation consultation at 410-654-3600.
More Blog Posts:
Federal Government Attempts to Combat Underreporting of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect in Maryland and Nationwide, Maryland Nursing Home Lawyer Blog, published November 14, 2018.
Maryland Announces $2.2 Million Settlement with Nursing Homes for Involuntarily Discharging Patients, Maryland Nursing Home Lawyer Blog, published November 7, 2018.