There is a lot of money to be made for owners of nursing homes. However, great responsibility also goes along with owning a nursing home facility. Owners must be always aware of serious issues and take action to prevent harm to residents. When the owner of a nursing home doesn’t stay on top of critical issues, like staffing shortages, the results can be deadly. One facility lost three residents to various injuries and illnesses that would have likely been prevented if the facility had enough staff to care for everyone in a timely manner.
What led to the deaths?
The residents at this facility suffered because they didn’t receive the care they required. The three victims suffered from preventable wounds, sepsis, dehydration, and bowel obstructions. The facility did not have enough staff to monitor the conditions of all the residents, which meant these injuries were preventable had the staffing issues been dealt with. Unfortunately, some nursing homes choose to understaff to increase profits.
The owner of the nursing home was held at fault by the court and was convicted of reckless endangerment. After a no-contest plea bargain, the owner was allowed to avoid jail time. He was sentenced to five years of probation. He owns other nursing homes in the state and may face future legal action based on the conditions at those facilities.
Understanding nursing home negligence
Nursing home negligence can have many contributing factors. It often isn’t the fault of the individual staff members when a resident is injured or falls ill in their care. Frequently, the owner of the nursing home has neglected his or her duties and doesn’t act when it’s needed to ensure that all residents are safe and taken care of. It is never okay for an owner to put profits over patients. If a Texas family believes that their loved one is a victim of nursing home abuse or negligence, they can speak with an experienced attorney to understand what steps need to be taken to move forward with a legal claim.