Accidents and Injuries in Assisted Living

People in Kentucky as well as people all across the United States sometimes require help and medical assistance with their every day needs, but these people may not yet require full nursing home care. This is where assisted living facilities are usually the best option. This way your loved one gets help and medical care for the things they struggle to do while still retaining most of their independence and quality of life. However, just like with nursing homes, people in assisted living may suffer from accidents, injuries, abuse and neglect due to understaffing and improper training. If you feel that someone you love has suffered from abuse or neglect as the result of an injury, neglect, or accident at an assisted living or nursing home facility, then you should talk to a Kentucky assisted living neglect and abuse lawyer right away. They will hear your case and make sure you get the compensation you and your loved ones need for what you have been through.

One of the main reasons why elderly people have to go into nursing homes or assisted living facilities is because their health has worsened and they become more dependent on caregivers to keep them safe from injuries and accidents. This is why it is crucial that assisted living facilities provide a safe environment for their residents and patients. Unfortunately, in many cases this does not happen. If the environment fails to provide proper safety precautions, injuries can occur. Some of the injuries that may happen because of this negligence include:

• Falls - People sixty five or older are more likely to sustain an injury from a fall. The Center for Disease Control states that one out of three elderly people fall every year. In 2009, more than 19,000 falls result in fatal injuries.
• Inadequate Nutrition - Proper nutrition is important in order to help maintain residents’ health and well-being. If special dietary needs are not met for many elderly people, they often will not get the level of nutrition they need and then their health will suffer resulting in more injuries and accidents.
• Lacks of proper Supervision- Elderly people require a certain amount of supervision in order to prevent injuries and accidents. However, many nursing homes and assisted living facilities are understaffed. This means that there is often not enough supervision for each resident or patient.

Residents of assisted living facilities and some residents of nursing homes may be able to walk around on their own or may even be able to partially care for themselves. Unfortunately, neglect and abuse still occurs. Some of the most common forms of negligence are:

• Physical - This kind of neglect or abuse may include: hitting, shoving, biting, or otherwise using any type of physical influence over a resident or patient.
• Emotional - This includes harassment, bullying, name-calling or any other kind of abuse that can be mentally harmful and destructive to residents.
• Sexual - This includes any type of sexual abuse or relationship from employees or other residents of the facility.
• Financial - This kind of abuse includes the embezzlement or stealing of residents’ money or stealing or compromising their identity.
• Neglect - This includes abuse or injuries that result from not providing residents proper nutrition, hygiene needs or medical care.

When Kentucky or Tennessee residents need to place their loved ones in an assisted living or nursing home facility, they want to know that their loved ones are going to receive quality care and proper medical attention. If someone you care about has suffered an injury, abuse or neglect while in a nursing home or assisted living facility, you should contact one of our knowledgeable and compassionate Tennessee and Kentucky nursing home neglect and abuse attorneys at the Higgins Firm immediately. We will listen to and review your case and make sure you receive the compensation you deserve for what you have had to suffer through.