There are certainly some nursing homes that have an adequate number of staff members at all times, but studies have found that this is not the norm. According to one study, as many as 94% of nursing homes reported staffing shortages.
Moreover, the study simply asked nursing home providers if they had run up against staffing shortages in the previous month. This shows how consistent and pervasive the problem can be.
Could staffing shortages lead to injuries?
Yes, staffing shortages in nursing homes certainly can increase the odds that a resident will suffer injuries.
After all, residents may need help with simple tasks, such as walking to the dining area or changing and showering. If they do not get the help that they need, they are at a greater risk of suffering an injury in a fall.
On top of that, workers in a nursing home need to respond to call signals from various rooms. If there are multiple signals at once and there are not enough staff members to respond, residents may have to wait for the care that they need. This could be very detrimental to their health in an emergency situation.
That is not to say that an individual nursing home employee is being negligent by not providing the proper care. It may just be that the staffing is inadequate and there is no way for them to respond to multiple situations at the same time.
Has your loved one suffered an injury in a nursing home?
If you have a loved one in a nursing home who has been injured in an accident, you may believe that staffing shortages were to blame and that the organization itself is, therefore, liable for those injuries. Be sure you know what legal options you have to seek appropriate financial compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering and other damages by connecting with a skilled legal professional.
