The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) specifically outlines that nursing home populations are at high risk for infection and death from the coronavirus. So why is it that an article updated on May 11, 2020, in the New York Times confirmed at least 28,100 residents and workers have died from coronavirus (COVID 19) infections at nursing homes and long-term care facilities for the elderly?
It is well known that the elderly and disabled residents that populate such facilities were at higher risk of contracting a serious illness due to underlying medical conditions and compromised immune systems prior to the coronavirus outbreak. According to the CDC, roughly 1-3 million infections occur annually in these facilities, resulting in as many as 380,000 related deaths. Long before the spread of Covid-19, it was no secret that many nursing home and long-term care facilities were already subpar when it came to controlling the spread of infection. Nursing homes were already understaffed, overworked, underpaid, and improperly trained in infection control and prevention; leading to inadequate response resources, failure to test and isolate the sick, untimely medical care, lack of emergency attention, and loosely enforced infectious disease protocols.
In failing to isolate sick patients, passively following infection protocols, forcing symptomatic employees to work, and lack of urgency in providing medical attention, the negligence of nursing homes and long-term care facilities has resulted in massive harm to their populations.
The preventable harms that have come to nursing home residents include:
- Residents forced to endure pain and suffering alone
- Being left alone for days on end
- Lack of sufficient food and water supply
- Failure to provide timely assistance for changing and toileting
- Preventable and undignified death
All of which are deficits in care and easily lead to the development and progression of additional life-threatening conditions:
- Pressure ulcers
- Falls
- Dehydration and Malnutrition
- Infection
- Missed diagnoses
- Death
Since the nationwide lockdown, thousands of the frail and elderly were completely isolated from their loved ones and were left alone to advocate for themselves and their medical care. The incomprehensible conditions and indignity they were subjected to is not acceptable.
How Can We Help?
The team at Kwartler Manus, LLC. believes that such horrendous failures in care should not be left unaddressed. If you or a loved one has experienced neglect or sustained harm while in the care of a nursing home or long-term care facility, it is your legal right to pursue compensation. Contact us online or by phone at (267) 457-5570, and speak to one of our experienced nursing home abuse and negligence attorneys today!