Injuries and Infections from a Kansas City Nursing Home

Nursing home abuse and neglect can take many forms. Negligence of injuries and infections is a form of nursing home abuse that is often unnoticed because the patient may have developed the infection or injury through no fault of the nursing home. However, failing to treat infections and injuries can result in complications and death. 

If you suspect that your loved one is the victim of nursing home negligence, keep reading for more information and contact our Kansas City nursing home abuse attorney for help.

Common Nursing Home Infections and Injuries

Nursing home injuries and infections can range from simple cuts and bruises to life-threatening conditions. However, some common injuries and infections that can be attributed to nursing home neglect include, but are not limited to:

Insufficient staffing or supervision of patients often results in unnecessary falls that can result in broken bones, head injuries, and other injuries. Many elderly patients in nursing homes have a high risk for falls. These patients should be supervised whenever they go to the bathroom, bathe, or dress.

General neglect and failure to provide personal care is another common reason for infections and injuries in nursing homes. Aspiration pneumonia can result when patients are not supervised adequately during feeding and drinking. Patients who are bedridden or left in chairs for long periods without being moved or turned can develop painful and serious bed sores. 

Untreated nursing home infections and injuries result in higher rates of hospitalizations, extended care, and death. For patients, these conditions cause severe pain and unnecessary suffering, grief, and mental anguish. 

What Can You Do If You Suspect Nursing Home Neglect? 

If you suspect that your loved one is the victim of nursing home neglect, you need immediate assistance from medical and legal experts. Try to remain calm. It is easy to lose your temper when you discover your loved one is the victim of abuse or neglect. 

The first priority is your loved one’s health and safety. You may need to take your loved one to the emergency room or request an independent examination by a physician that is not related to the nursing home. The steps you need to take to secure your loved one’s safety depends on the circumstances. In extreme cases, a family might need to remove their loved one from the nursing home.

Nursing Home Abuse State Contacts in Missouri and Kansas

If a person is in immediate threat of harm or injury, call social services or law enforcement officers. In Kansas, you can call the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services at 1-800-842-0078 to report nursing home abuse or neglect. To report nursing home abuse or neglect in Missouri, contact the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services at 800-392-0210.

As soon as your loved one is stable and safe, contact a Kansas City nursing home abuse lawyer. A nursing home attorney can help you take the steps necessary to investigate the allegations of abuse and neglect, gather evidence, identify liable parties, and file a claim on behalf of your loved one to hold the responsible parties liable for their wrongdoing and negligence.

Can I Sue a Nursing Home for Neglect and Failure to Treat Injuries and Infections?

Yes, you can sue a nursing home if the facility was negligent or committed wrongdoing related to the care and safety of a patient. A nursing home cannot prevent all injuries or infections. However, if the facility or staff members did not act reasonably to care for a patient with an injury or infection, they can be held liable for damages.

Damages in a nursing home abuse or neglect case might include compensation for:

  • Medical bills and expenses
  • Moving the patient to a safe location
  • Physical pain and suffering
  • Mental anguish and emotional distress
  • Cost of personal care
  • Legal fees and costs of pursuing an action

There could be other damages related to the case, depending on the facts of the case. A qualified nursing home attorney in Kansas City can review your case to determine what compensation might be available for your loved one. 

While money will not undo the suffering caused by neglect or abuse, it can help pay for additional care and treatment that your loved one needs to recover from the consequences of the abuse and neglect. Also, filing complaints and lawsuits against nursing homes can help shed light on the abuse to prevent other patients from suffering the way your loved one has suffered.

Contact a Kansas City Nursing Home Abuse Attorney for More Information 

The Law Office of Kevin J. McManus handles nursing home abuse and neglect cases in Missouri and Kansas.  If you suspect a loved one has been harmed by neglect or abuse at a nursing home in Kansas City or anywhere in Missouri or Kansas, please know that you are not alone and help is available.

 

Call 816-203-0143 for a free consultation with a Kansas City nursing home abuse attorney to discuss your loved one’s situation. 

 

Kevin J. McManus
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Kevin McManus is an accident injury and disability lawyer in Kansas City, MO, and Overland Park, KS