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Causes of Nursing Home Abuse
Nothing can justify the shameful and tragic abuse and neglect of nursing home patients. However, certain factors can play a role in this widespread problem. Although numerous and complex, these root causes have one thing in common—economics.
With a widening gap between Medicaid payments and actual costs of care, nursing home facilities must often cope with severely limited resources. Following are some examples of how cost-cutting and cost-containment measures may affect the quality of care and the frequency of abuse:
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Stressful working conditions, including
- Staffing shortages
- Heavy patient loads
- Excessive and mandatory overtime
- Low wages, requiring many caregivers to work at two jobs in order to make ends meet
- Poor staff training, particularly when it comes to how to manage patients with dementia. These patients pose the greatest challenge to caregivers.
- Limited background checks. Only state background checks are required for nursing staff. No background checks are required for support personnel or patients.
- Inadequate resources to conduct investigations. Each state has a long-term care ombudsman program to identify and investigate complaints of nursing home negligence. However, these programs are often staffed by volunteers and subject to political pressure, which limits their effectiveness.
Have You or a Loved One Suffered From Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect?
Every nursing home has a legal obligation to provide quality care and a safe environment for its patients. If you or a family member has suffered abuse or neglect while a resident in a nursing home, contact us today.