May 23, 2025 | Personal Injury
Age catches up with everyone. As many people get older, the unfortunate reality is that they can no longer live without support. One societal solution to this problem is nursing homes.
A good nursing home works a bit like a bed and breakfast, where the elderly spend their final days enjoying good food, entertainment, and companionship. Ideally, these facilities allow older adults to live their lives comfortably with the assistance of trained professionals.
Unfortunately, not all nursing homes live up to this ideal. Many nursing home residents have complaints about where they live. The following are three of the most common complaints about nursing homes.
Insufficient Staffing
Every person in a care facility needs a different amount of support. Someone with advanced dementia, for example, should be under close supervision. They need help performing most daily activities. Conversely, a relatively fit resident may need only occasional help with a few specific tasks.
A nursing home should have enough staff for all residents to receive the care they need when they need it. Of course, waiting a few minutes to get assistance walking to the rec room probably isn’t a big deal. However, if a resident has to wait half an hour before someone arrives to help them go to the bathroom, the delay can result in an accident that hurts the resident’s dignity and well-being.
Staffing at a nursing home needs to be sufficient 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This means that residents should be cared for on Christmas Day as well as on a random Tuesday in the middle of the summer.
If your loved one lives in a facility with insufficient staffing, they may regularly have to wait for help with daily activities, including bathing and eating. This can result in malnutrition or dangerously poor hygiene.
Substandard Living Conditions And Care
Elder care facilities are regulated by the state. They must provide a minimum level of care and safe living conditions for every resident. When a care facility drops below these standards, it violates the law and presents a danger to residents.
Government agencies should regularly inspect nursing homes to ensure they meet these standards. However, investigations don’t always identify problems, especially since investigators can’t be at elderly care facilities every day.
If a nursing home with poor living conditions has slipped through the cracks, consult with an experienced nursing home lawyer. They will help you report the facility to the government and discuss how to help your loved one.
When trying to determine whether the living conditions are up to standards, consider:
- The temperature of the facility
- The amount and type of food residents eat
- The cleanliness of the rooms
- The presence of vermin, such as mice
If you see something at a nursing home that would be a red flag in an apartment that you were considering renting, it may be below the state-mandated standards.
Neglect and Abuse
The worst complaint that any nursing home resident can voice is that they are being neglected or abused by nursing home staff. While this is not the most common complaint, it is, unfortunately, not rare enough.
Nursing Home Neglect
Neglect is often tied to another frequent problem: staffing shortages. A nursing home that constantly operates while short-staffed cannot fulfill the needs of residents. Overworked staff may have no choice but to ignore certain needs, which means that the effects of intentional neglect are nearly identical to the effects of understaffing.
A neglected resident may go hungry, develop bed sores, or go days without bathing. This causes more than just discomfort. Poor hygiene and malnutrition can be life-threatening, especially to the elderly.
Nursing Home Abuse
Nursing home abuse is equally horrifying. This occurs when a staff member or another resident commits physical or emotional violence against someone. Some people may physically strike residents or intentionally isolate them from others, for example.
Abuse is particularly devastating because many residents of nursing homes have limited ability to communicate with authorities or their loved ones. A resident could be abused for weeks or even years without anyone suspecting what they have gone through.
Furthermore, many victims of abuse feel unsafe notifying other staff or loved ones. As a resident of a nursing home, they are basically at the mercy of the staff members. The abuser may retaliate if the nursing home resident reports their actions, making the situation worse.
What To Do if You Suspect Abuse or Neglect
If you suspect your loved one is being abused in a nursing home, you should investigate as soon as possible. The state also offers help for abused older adults and their families. For example, you can report suspected abuse in Kentucky by calling the state hotline or filling out an online form.
If possible, remove your loved one from a potentially abusive environment. This may mean transferring them to another area of the facility or even to another nursing home.
You should also consult with an experienced personal injury lawyer. They can help you keep your loved one safe, and you can ask your attorney whether it’s time to file a nursing home abuse claim and seek compensation.
Complaints Should Always Be Taken Seriously
All too often, the complaints of the elderly are ignored. Some people may think that an older relative is exaggerating or confabulating because of their mental state. Unfortunately, that is part of the reason that these problems continue.
When you ignore a claim of abuse, neglect, or poor conditions, the problem will not be fixed. Often, the longer an issue persists, the worse the consequences. Instead, if you take a complaint seriously as soon as your loved one makes it, you may be able to correct it before it impacts their health or mental well-being.
Remember that the residents of nursing homes aren’t strangers; they are your loved ones and the friends of your loved ones. Any complaint, no matter how minor, should be taken seriously.
Contact Our Personal Injury Law Firm in Kentucky Today To Get More Information
If you’ve been injured in an accident in Lexington or Bowling Green, please contact our personal injury lawyers at Minner Vines Injury Lawyers, PLLC for a free case evaluation.
Minner Vines Injury Lawyers, PLLC – Lexington, KY Office
325 W Main St #210, Lexington, KY 40507
(859) 550-2900
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