The nursing home staff is not just there to hand out medicine and respond to emergencies. Their jobs go beyond strict medical care.
When considering things like nursing home neglect, it’s easy to see cases of neglect where people do not get the treatment and care that they need. However, it’s important to remember that neglect can also mean simply cutting someone off from human socialization and refusing to give them the positive interactions that help them thrive. The staff has to be ready and willing to engage with the residents.
In fact, medical experts have said that these positive interactions not only improve people’s moods and well-being, but actually contribute to extended survival. Residents can and do live longer when they have this type of welcoming environment.
That’s why it is so important to consider the way that the staff treats the residents. Just checking off boxes — giving someone a shower, handing out their pills, giving them a meal — is not enough. The staff needs to be friendly, welcoming and engaging as they do these things. They need to focus on creating a positive environment and a community that the residents can be part of. That’s the best way to keep them healthy for years to come, and that’s the type of care that they need.
Do you think that your loved one has been neglected in a nursing home? Did that lead to a decline in health, to a direct injury or even to death? If so, you need to know all of the legal options you have moving forward.
