Unfortunately, nursing homes are increasingly a profit-driven business. That means good patient care sometimes takes a back seat to financial concerns. In some homes, this shows in small ways that can become big -- for example, understaffing leads to overworked staff members who make dangerous mistakes. At the most extreme, nursing homes that skimp in vital areas can expose their residents to abusive or criminal staffers; uncontrolled infections; and neglect of some of the basics of patient care. Our Pennsylvania nursing home negligence attorneys are proud to represent residents and family members seeking to hold nursing homes responsible for mistreatment.

When most people think of bad care at nursing homes, they think of physical abuse. This is a serious problem in nursing homes, and can lead to injuries, illnesses and other severe complications to the victim’s health. However, what is more common is the neglect of the nursing home resident’s basic needs. Staff members who are overworked, under-trained, unqualified, or just don’t care, may be responsible for:

• Severe bedsores (pressure sores or decubitus ulcers)
• Malnutrition and dehydration
• Catastrophic falls
• Poor basic hygiene
• Infections

Medication problems are another serious problem in nursing homes. The concentration of powerful drugs in nursing homes invites abuse by unscrupulous staff members. Too much, too little or the wrong kind of medication can lead to severe and unnecessary side effects, or suffering from untreated health conditions. Our Philadelphia nursing home abuse lawyers handle all types of medication cases, including cases of:

• Mistakes with prescription drugs, leading to serious side effects
• Improper use of medication as “chemical restraints”
• Prescription of unnecessary drugs for financial reasons
• Theft of a patient’s medications (usually drugs with abuse potential)
• Under-medication due to poor financial management

Abuse, neglect and medication problems can all lead to serious health problems. Often, these preventable problems complicate an underlying condition or general fragile health in the resident. A healthier patient may bounce back from infections or dehydration, but for some nursing home residents, they can lead to a decline or even a death. Our Philadelphia nursing home neglect lawyers represent family members in wrongful death lawsuits and survival actions against negligent nursing homes.

Spotting and stopping nursing home negligence is complicated by the victim’s health. Nursing home residents frequently have health problems, physical disabilities or mental illnesses that keep them from telling anyone about abuse. All too often, abuse or neglect is discovered only after a major catastrophic event like a hospitalization. At that point, it may be too late to stop a health decline that can lead to death or worsened quality of life.

After abuse or neglect is discovered at a nursing home, the negligent staff members may be criminally prosecuted, and the home or staffers may suffer professional and administrative consequences. However, none of this is certain -- and none of it offers financial compensation for victims and families that suffered an avoidable hospitalization, health problems and sudden need for replacement care. Nursing home residents and their families in this position may also choose to pursue a Pennsylvania nursing home negligence lawsuit, to hold the careless home and staffers responsible and recover the sometimes steep costs of their negligence.

Based in Philadelphia, Rosenbaum & Associates represents families of nursing home negligence throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey. If someone you love suffered serious health problems because of abuse or neglect, don’t hesitate to contact us for a free consultation. You can reach us toll-free at 1-800-7-LEGAL-7 (1-800-753-4257) or send a message through our Web site.