Inadequate Supervision at a Nuring Home

Nursing home staff are responsible for keeping your loved ones safe. Adequate supervision is important for every resident, even if they appear to be idle. Unfortunately, inadequate supervision at a nursing home is one of the most common reasons for injuries and residents can be severely injured when staff is negligent.

The Illinois Nursing Home Care Act provides rules and guidelines that are to be followed by both nursing homes and their residents in the care they receive. This legislation also covers inspections, complaints, and violations.

Once a resident is approved to a facility, it is the task of the nursing home to provide proper care, including adequate supervision dependent on what is appropriate for each resident.

Activities That Require Supervision

Each nursing home resident will require different levels of care and supervision, but no resident should ever be completely left to their own devices. Some of the activities that require supervision in a nursing home include:

• Bathing-Bathing is difficult and dangerous for those that have diminished balance skills. Staff should also assist in bathroom tasks as well to prevent slips and falls.
• Walking-Nursing home staff should assess each residents’ risk of falling and put plans in effect to protect them from injury.
• Eating and Drinking-Nursing homes are required to provide proper hydration and nutrition to each resident. When residents struggle with eating and drinking on their own, it is the duty of staff to assist in any manner they may need to ensure that injuries from hot foods and drinks do not burn the resident, and that nutritional deficiencies do not occur.

It is also important that residents receive supervision when dressing, taking medication, sitting and watching television, and even sleeping. Without adequate supervision, residents can quickly suffer injuries that could be devastating.

Signs of Inadequate Supervision

Even with The Illinois Nursing Home Care Act in place, nursing homes often fail in the supervision of their residents. Signs of inadequate supervision can be obvious or a bit more difficult to see, but the following are some signs that a nursing home is not providing your loved one with the supervision they require:

• Malnutrition
• Dehydration
• Unexplained falls
• Bone fractures
• Untreated wounds
• Pressure ulcers
• Poor hygiene
• Medical errors and poor notification from the facility
• Missing records
• Patients wandering from the facility
• Lack of formal care plans
• Insufficient staffing
• Inadequate protection measures

If you believe a loved one has been abused or neglected at a long-term care facility, contact 844 See Mike, for a free consultation. We are a Chicago injury law firm representing individuals and families who have suffered an injury or loss due to an accident. 844 See Mike, will handle your personal injury case quickly, will advise you every step of the way, and will not hesitate to go to trial for you.

Lastly, 844 See Mike, does not get paid attorney’s fees unless we win your case. Our no-fee promise is that simple. Therefore, you have nothing to risk when you hire us–just the opportunity to seek justice.