Orange County Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers Reveal New Study

A new study recently revealed in the United Kingdom illustrates how nursing home centers are understaffed. In a 600 nurse survey, here are the following responses:

–          Failure to respond and monitor oxygen levels and saturation – 131 cases
–          The misidentification of a patient – 77 episodes
–          Bedrail entrapment – 52 times
–          Feeding tubes being misplaced –  50 cases
–          Misadministration of insulin – 49 times
–          Serious scalding – 8 times

This showcases not a small percent of error but a huge margin of neglect that is not really the fault of nurses and technicians at retirement home facilities but their understaffing and the large amount of pressure and stress they endure to properly take care of all the patients adequately.  Nursing homes are trying to find more and more ways of saving money to put profits over patients and it shows.

Studies estimate that 6.6 million senior citizens will need nursing homes by 2050, which is over quadrupling the amount of patients currently in retirement homes across the United States. The statistics for nursing home violations are severe and preposterous. Nursing home neglect has become an epidemic and we need to improve and enforce nursing home safety and quality regulations in order to properly ensure the care and compassion that our elderly community desperately needs.

Sadly, neglect can oftentimes turn into abuse. One nurse surveyed stated, “when you’re pulling every way to care for patients, your patience and tolerance can be affected.” This shows how understaffing can get on the nerves of employees who may snap or be less than gracious after continued requests from our more vulnerable and needy elderly friends and family.

If you or someone you know has been involved in either nursing home neglect or nursing home abuse in a retirement home in California, contact a Orange County Nursing Home Lawyer for help bringing justice to your case.