New York State families rely on nursing homes to care for their elderly and ill loved ones who cannot adequately care for themselves. Part of that is ensuring they receive all the necessary nutrition, have a safe environment, are given their medication and get accurate treatment for medical issues.
Many facilities are professional and caring, fulfilling their duties and ensuring the residents have everything they need. Still, mistakes are common. Some cause worsened conditions, illness and injury. Others stem from abuse, mistreatment and negligence.
Recently, an egregious error nearly cost a woman her life. Families need to be attentive and understand how this can happen. In addition, they should consider their legal options to be compensated for what occurred.
Woman was brought to a funeral home after being declared dead, but was still alive
An 82-year-old nursing home resident was declared dead. Staff stated she had died at 11:15 that morning and she was sent to a funeral home. At shortly after 2 p.m., funeral home workers noticed that she was still breathing. She was then brought to the hospital. Her condition was unknown in the immediate aftermath.
An investigation is underway after the incident was reported to the New York State Attorney General. As the case is assessed, the determination will be made as to whether the nursing home will face sanctions for the error.
This comes on the heels of a similar incident in Iowa. In that case, a 66-year-old woman was at hospice. The staff thought she was dead when they checked her at 6 a.m. She too was taken to a funeral home and she was found to still be breathing. She was taken for treatment and subsequently died after going back to hospice. The facility received a $10,000 fine.
People impacted by nursing home negligence may need advice
Nursing home negligence comes in many forms. Complaints frequently stem from residents suffering from illness because of staff ignoring them, having bed sores, being given the wrong medication, not getting the nutrition required, falling, physical abuse, mental abuse and more.
The cases discussed above are especially egregious as people were brought to funeral homes while they were still alive. Family members who believe their loved one has been harmed because of nursing home errors should know that they have rights. Consulting with professionals who know how to assess these cases and move forward with a potential claim can be essential to achieving justice and making sure that facilities are accountable for their behavior.
