Making the decision to live in a care home is a big step for most people. Whilst living in a care home, residents and their loved ones rightly expect to be well cared for and treated with respect. Unfortunately, this does not always happen.
WHAT IS CARE HOME NEGLIGENCE?
For the vast majority, residents at care homes receive outstanding care but there are always exceptions where the level of care provided falls below the reasonable standards that residents and their loved ones expect.
Failings from the care home or their members of staff can result in injury or illness to a resident, which can be traumatic and life-changing. When this happens, you or a loved one may be entitled to an explanation, an apology and/or compensation.
WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON TYPES OF CARE HOME NEGLIGENCE?
Falls and Handling Errors
When residents are not moved/handled correctly, are not provided with the appropriate mobility aids or are not appropriately supervised, then falls can occur. For the majority of residents, falls can result in serious and potentially life-changing injuries such as broken bones.
Such an injury can be detrimental to a resident’s physical and psychological health at a time in their lives when they may already be experiencing vulnerability, especially if the injury further reduces the resident’s mobility.
Pressure Ulcers / Sores
Pressure ulcers and sores are a particularly prevalent risk for those residents who are bed bound or have limited mobility. They can occur as a result of not being appropriately re-positioned and being left on a bed or other surface for a long period of time or as a result of failings in their personal care.
Pressure ulcers and sores develop and worsen quickly. The presence of a pressure ulcer or sore can have a significant impact on a resident’s quality of life both physically and psychologically as they are incredibly painful and can take months/years to heal. In some cases, they do not heal at all. The fact is that pressure ulcers and sores are completely avoidable with the correct nursing care.
Medication Errors
Errors with medication can include administering the wrong medication completely, administering the right medication but with the wrong dose or failing to give full and reasonable instructions about when/how to take the medication. Such errors can result in serious and sometimes life-threatening conditions.
Abuse
In rare cases, injuries can be suffered as a result of deliberate abuse from care home staff. In these cases, it can be difficult to establish that the injury was caused deliberately and not by another cause. Our specialist solicitors can assist in helping you to determine this.
HOW MUCH COMPENSATION CAN YOU RECEIVE AS A RESULT OF CARE HOME NEGLIGENCE?
Each claim of care home negligence carries a different set of circumstances which carries a different valuation. Our specialist medical negligence solicitors have a vast experience of care home claims and will ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.
We treat all matters with the utmost sensitivity and care, and we encourage you to speak to a member of our Team about your medical negligence enquiry. You can contact our Paralegals, who are all part of our New Enquiry Team, via the direct lines below.
• Julie Sowery on 0151 625 9154 ext. 3009
• Lily Lammond on 0151 526 9321 ext. 1510
• Yasmin Perry on 0151 526 9321 ext. 1511
