3 Main Causes of Neglect in Nursing Homes

Negligent Hiring

Sometimes nursing homes hire caretakers who present a higher risk of abusing or neglecting the elderly.
Nursing homes should follow a thorough screening process to check an applicant’s criminal background and certifications. If they don’t, they may end up hiring people with a track record of abusing or neglecting seniors.

Understaffing

When a nursing facility does not have enough staff, each resident receives less attention, increasing the risk of neglect. Federal studies and data from 2018 found that most U.S. assisted living facilities are understaffed.

Inadequate Training

Nursing home staff members who are not properly trained for their roles can slip into patterns of neglect and abuse.
Undertrained caregivers and aides are more likely to make mistakes with medications, mishandle elderly residents, and create other problems that harm older adults.

Call O’Malley & Perry Law with questions about a nursing home abuse and/or neglect case.