Sending a loved one to a nursing home is never an easy choice. Pittsburgh family members must research nursing home facilities and avoid those where nursing home negligence is evident. In the weakened economy, though, even the most high-quality nursing homes are suffering financially, forcing them to close down some units, or in some cases, close down entire facilities due to lack of funds for an adequate staff and necessary supplies.
However, such closures can be interpreted by residents and their family members as attributable to poor quality and can be misread as signs of potential negligence and abuse. This is the dilemma faced by one Pittsburgh nursing home that has come upon hard times financially and has been forced to reduce its staff. Despite its recent troubles, the nursing home has consistently received five star ratings for quality by Medicare and has a number of devoted residents and families.
Nursing home negligence is a danger that families must seek to avoid. When choosing a nursing home for a loved one, families should consider whether the facility has a poorly qualified staff, inadequate numbers of staff members or an isolation of residents, as these are factors that may indicate forms of nursing home abuse and neglect.
If a nursing home resident is the victim of nursing home negligence or abuse, they have legal options to consider. It may be wise to pursue a civil lawsuit.
While the Pittsburgh nursing home above is highly regarded for its quality of care and trained staff, families looking into nursing homes should be aware that reduced staff and tightened budgets may contribute to nursing home negligence. Families and residents deserve the best care possible, and when that is not given, those who are responsible need to be held accountable.
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, “Uncertainty dogs staff, families at Vincentian Regency nursing home,” Sandy Trozzo, Oct. 4, 2012