Nursing homes provide a valuable and necessary service in our society. They take care of our elderly, infirm and vulnerable family members when we cannot care for them at home. In some cases, the nursing home breaches their promise to care for the patient adequately and the patient suffers from abuse or neglect which can result in death. The most common forms of nursing home abuse or neglect are:

• Bedsores or decubitus ulcers
• Broken bones
• Dehydration
• Malnutrition
• Contractures
• Aspiration pneumonia
• Urinary tract infection (UTI) or septicemia
• Gangrene
• Medication errors
• Over prescription of sedating medication (chemical restraint)
• Exposure from a patient "wandering off"
• Infections
• Physical abuse - hitting or kicking
• Sexual abuse -- inappropriate touching, foundling or rape

While most nursing homes are staffed with professionals who are caring and good, sometimes, the for-profit nature of the business means that the needs of the patient are not always held paramount. In most cases of nursing home abuse, it is inadequate staffing that is the cause. If there is insufficient staff coverage, insufficient staff training and education, and lack of proper staff supervision, the patients/residents suffer.

Nursing homes are highly regulated by the Federal Government. Nursing homes that receive Medicare or Medicaid funds must meet federal standards. The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA-87) defines a comprehensive set of nursing home regulations. The goal of OBRA-87 is that each resident receives care "to attain or maintain the highest practicable physical, mental and psychosocial well-being."

If one of your loved ones has been seriously injured or died as a result of nursing home staff negligence or abuse, contact The Farber Law Group, a law firm that specializes in nursing home abuse and neglect.