Families rely on nursing home facilities to meet the needs of their ill, infirm, and incapacitated loved ones. When we place a vulnerable family member into a nursing home, we expect proper care and treatment. We understand the high stakes, knowing full well that if the standard of care lapses, the results can be catastrophic. Life-threatening injuries and even deaths are almost a foregone conclusion in that scenario.
One Toledo care facility, Advanced Healthcare Center, seems to have more than its fair share of grievances, at least according to information uncovered by local investigative reporters. These complaints aren’t for minor reasons, like residents who are unhappy with the meal selection. Instead, they deal with serious issues like a lack of qualified staffing and tragic resident deaths.
Attorney Chad Tuschman with the law firm of Williams DeClark Tuschman Co. L.P.A. notes that these complaints are particularly egregious. Furthermore, the number brought against this facility goes far beyond those normally expected pursuant to state and national averages.
Perils of inadequate staffing
Lack of adequate qualified staff in nursing homes and other assisted living facilities can result in untold harm to residents. It’s simply impossible to provide the highest standard of care without enough trained caregivers.
In particular, there are allegations that Advanced Healthcare Center doesn’t have enough nurses to go around. According to a former staff nurse, the facility handles the most vulnerable of patients, including open wounds, reliance on ventilators, those needing memory care supervision, and those who are immobile.
Inadequate staff can lead to a heightened chance of abuse or neglect and can lead to such injuries as:
- Bedsores/pressure sores
- Malnutrition
- Dehydration
- Not handling bodily functions for immobile residents
- Lack of proper grooming
- Infections
What you can do if you suspect nursing home problems
If you suspect a loved one has been hurt in a nursing home, it’s important to speak up. Staying silent is a sure-fire way to ensure that abuse or neglect will continue, not only for your relative but also for other residents.
Bring your concerns to the attention of facility administrators. Once the administration is made aware of potential issues, they should take punitive measures to make the abuse and neglect end.
If administrators and supervisors won’t act, though, take your concerns higher up the proverbial food chain. You can file a complaint with the Ohio Department of Health.