Families expect nursing homes in Nassau and Queens to properly administer medications to their residents while tending to their medical needs. When this doesn’t happen, their loved one may suffer needlessly. But when do these failures rise to the level of elder abuse?
If you suspect that the nursing facility caring for your loved one is falling short of its duties, it’s imperative that you take quick action. Work with Bornstein & Emanuel, P.C. to get the help and monetary compensation your family member needs.
Common Nursing Home Medication Errors
The nurses and staff who oversee patients should make every reasonable effort to properly administer prescription medications to them. Some of the most common mistakes involve:
- Incorrect medication: Nursing homes in Nassau and Queens should keep accurate records to ensure each patient is given only the medicine prescribed to them.
- Incorrect dosage and timing: Likewise, the nurse should give the medicine in the correct amount and at the appropriate intervals to treat the patient.
- Expired medications: Even if the medicine is the correct one, if it is outdated it may be ineffective or it could cause serious health complications.
- Inadequate monitoring: Nurses and staff may need to monitor the patient to ensure there are no problems after the medication has been administered.
- Drug interactions: Failure to ask the patient questions about their health background and other medications could lead to negative drug interactions.
How Medical Neglect Happens
Nursing home medical neglect can occur in different ways, including through the prescription medication errors listed above. If you have a loved one residing in a Nassau or Queens nursing home or assisted living facility, be on the lookout for these signs of neglect:
- Failure to timely respond to a patient’s medical emergency
- Ignoring injuries or illnesses such as bedsores and infections
- Failure to bathe a patient or change their clothing or bed linens
- Leaving patients who have trouble with mobility isolated in their rooms for long periods of time
- Withholding food, water, medicine, or medical attention
These and other actions indicate disregard for the health and well-being of the patient. But when do medication errors and neglect rise to the level of elder abuse?
Understanding Elder Abuse in New York
New York law defines elder abuse as an intentional act or failure to act that causes harm to an older person, generally someone who is over the age of 60. It can happen at the hands of anyone, especially a person who is tasked with providing medical care (such as a nursing home staff member). There are several recognized categories of elder abuse, including neglect.
A Nassau or Queens nursing home resident who doesn’t receive appropriate care could suffer severe harm. Caregivers should ensure that each patient’s basic needs are addressed. When they neglect to properly administer medications or tend to patients’ medical conditions, they and their businesses (e.g. the nursing homes) can be held liable for resulting injuries.
Steps to Take If You Suspect Elder Abuse
If you believe your parent or other loved one is not being taken care of in a nursing home or similar facility, this could be a situation involving elder abuse. The steps you take may make the difference between the resident’s life or death. We recommend doing the following:
- Call emergency services for an urgent need: If the individual is in immediate danger of death or serious bodily injury, call 911.
- Contact Adult Protective Services: This New York agency is responsible for investigating elder abuse.
- Retain a Nassau and Queens nursing home injury attorney: A lawyer can help you with the legal process of seeking compensation for your loved one.
Nobody should suffer elder abuse, especially if they reside in a facility that is specifically in charge of meeting their medical needs. Are you concerned for the well-being of your family member? Connect today with Bornstein & Emanuel, P.C.
