By now, we realize that COVID-19 is incredibly dangerous for specific segments of the population, particularly those who reside in nursing homes. Some of the worst outbreaks in the country have happened in nursing home environments. In South Carolina, COVID-19 deaths account for one-third of the entire state’s virus toll. As this pandemic pushes nursing home workers to their limits, and due to family visitation being halted, what steps can you take to ensure that your loved one is being cared for properly in a nursing home?
Understaffing is a major safety problem for nursing home residents
A major concern that many families have in South Carolina right now is that their loved ones may not be properly cared for during this ongoing pandemic. In some cases, nursing home staffing numbers have been reduced. This can have serious consequences on residents, and family members currently have no way to conduct in-person visits to check on the condition of their loved one.
Even the best nursing homes can suffer from a decline in patient care if they do not have enough staff to take care of the residents. While the risk of intentional abuse may not increase, it is the unintentional neglect of nursing home residents that should be worrying about family members. An under-staffed facility can exasperate the prevalence of:
- pressure ulcers (bedsores)
- medication mistakes (wrong dosage, wrong medication, not giving medication at all)
- malnutrition
- dehydration
- patients being dropped leading to significant fractures
Nursing home under-staffing should always be a concern of family members. During the ongoing pandemic, we encourage family members to use other means to connect with their loved ones, including phone calls and video conferencing on a regular basis, if possible.
Our nursing home abuse lawyers are here to help
If you suspect that your loved one has not been cared for properly inside of a nursing home in Greenville, South Carolina, speak to an attorney as soon as possible. The team at Dan Pruitt Law Firm is ready to investigate your claim and work to secure any compensation you or your loved one are entitled to. You can contact our Greenville nursing home abuse attorney for a free consultation today so we can help determine what the best path forward for you and your family should be.