Deciding to place a loved one in a nursing home isn’t easy. However, it sometimes becomes necessary if they require 24-hour skilled care.
It’s reasonable to expect facility staff to provide attentive, safe and appropriate care. Unfortunately, staffing problems can make it difficult for nursing homes to meet those expectations.
Signs of understaffing
Nursing home residents often have complex medical and personal care needs. Some residents need assistance with daily activities such as bathing, eating, toileting or moving around safely. Other residents may require frequent monitoring because they are at risk of falling, eloping, developing bedsores or becoming dehydrated.
When there aren’t enough staff members available, it becomes difficult for the nursing home to provide the level of care residents need. Residents can develop pressure ulcers if they are not repositioned frequently, or they may fall if staff members do not respond to their calls for assistance.
A single incident may not necessarily mean a resident is being neglected. However, repeated failures can raise serious concerns.
Visiting family members may not always know how many employees are working at the nursing home or whether staffing levels are adequate. Certain patterns may indicate that a facility is struggling to provide sufficient care.
For example, family members may notice it takes a long time for someone to answer their loved one’s call bell, or the resident may look unkempt or experience frequent falls or unexplained injuries.
Frequent staff turnover can be another warning sign. Consistently changing staff makes it harder to maintain continuity of care.
Illinois law provides certain protections for nursing home residents. If you believe inadequate staffing is putting your loved one at risk, you need to address any medical concerns first by ensuring they are receiving appropriate treatment for any injury or illness. You also need to raise your concerns with the nursing home’s administrators. If the situation doesn’t improve or your loved one suffers an injury due to inadequate care, consider speaking with a legal professional who can help determine whether the facility may have violated its legal obligations.