Nursing homes are designed to be places of care. While many nursing homes are well-staffed and well-run, some nursing homes suffer from inadequate sanitation and hygiene. Inadequate sanitation and hygienic practices in a nursing home can be dangerous for residents, many of whom are already immuno-compromised or battling infections. If your elderly loved one within a nursing home has suffered harm as a result of inadequate sanitation and hygiene, you may have a legal case against the nursing home. Reach out to our nursing home abuse attorney directly to learn more.
The Risks of Poor Hygiene and Sanitation
Proper hygiene and sanitation are incredibly important in a nursing home. Elderly persons often have underlying conditions that put them at a higher risk of contracting diseases or infections, or having an adverse reaction to a disease/infection. The spread of germs, illness, and disease can lead to life-threatening complications for elderly persons. For example, the coronavirus is much more likely to cause severe complications or death in elderly persons. The same is true for MRSA and other infectious diseases.
Warning Signs to Watch For
It’s important to check in on your loved one regularly and to visit the nursing home in person to detect any warning signs. Warning signs of inadequate sanitation and hygiene in a nursing home include:
- Signs of poor resident hygiene—unwashed hair, dirty clothes, bodily odors
- Development of bedsores or infections
- Unclean common areas, including living rooms and dining areas
- Unclean private resident rooms
- Unchanged adult disposable undergarments
- Unclean bedding
- Observed improper hygiene—for example, noticing that a nurse fails to wear gloves or wash their hands prior to administering a patient’s medication
How to Bring Forth a Claim if Your Loved One’s Been Impacted
If you believe that your loved one has been impacted by poor hygienic and sanitation practices within a nursing home, you have the right to take legal action. To win a legal claim, you will have to prove that the elderly person suffered harm that they would have not suffered but for hygiene/sanitation issues, and that the improper hygiene/sanitation was a breach of the duty of care owed to the resident. Before you file a claim, we recommend:
- Talking to a nursing home manager about your concerns
- Gathering evidence
- Filing a complaint with the nursing home
- Filing a complaint with the Massachusetts Long-Term Care Ombudsman
- Hiring an attorney who can represent you throughout the process
Once you’re ready to take action, our lawyer can assist by opening an investigation into your case, gathering evidence, talking to witnesses, preparing your claim documents, calculating damages, and proving causation.
Call the Office of Tetzel Law, LLC Today
At the office of Tetzel Law, LLC, our experienced nursing home abuse lawyer is here for you. We know that learning of an elderly loved one’s harm is devastating. We’ll work hard to get you a compensation award that your family deserves. Reach us online or by phone at (617) 742-1700 for a free consultation.