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Thursday, April 9, 2009
Nursing Home Abuse Allegations in Tennessee Just Part of Larger Problem
When we take our elderly to nursing homes, we do so with regret and sadness, but probably also with some relief. We know they will be taken care of on a daily basis in ways we can’t. At least we hope this is the case. However, reports of nursing home abuse are in the news every single day. For whatever reason, these stories don’t seem to draw as much attention as do reports of child abuse, even though some of these elderly patients are as helpless and defenseless as our young are in many ways.
Take the story of a nursing home on the border of Tennessee and Virginia, for example. For nearly a decade, workers claim that a nurses’ aide molested those who were supposed to be in his care. These allegations come from both employees, as well as patients. While this may not necessarily be news, in the sense that this happens more than people care to admit, what is news is that despite complaint after complaint, the man was allowed to keep his job.
The nursing home is part of the National HealthCare Corp. (NHC), a conglomerated of nursing homes stretching across the country. Employees of the nursing home have described the managers at NHC as seemingly indifferent when they told them of the nurses’ aide’s conduct. As a result of this attitude, many of the employees quit in frustration. This went on until 2007 when the nurses’ aide was given the ultimatum of leave or be terminated. However, he quickly began working at another nursing home nearby. The case is now being investigated by Tennessee authorities. However, NHC has made the news before due to lack of quality care, payments made to injured patients and families, as well as a fire that killed 16 patients in a Nashville nursing home in 2003. (The law in Tennessee didn’t require the home have sprinklers, so they were never added.)
This is simply one example of what goes on. There are many cases that never make the news and many cases of family members confused as to why their elderly loved ones seem to be acting in ways that leave the family with questions and suspicions. Unfortunately, getting answers from the nursing home administration may be difficult. If a nursing home patient has dementia, how can what they say or how they act be trusted?
Nursing home abuse and neglect may be due to several factors. One of those is that many nursing home employees are spread thin. Even in an economic downturn, there simply are not enough people working in nursing homes. The home in Tennessee was supposed to be one aide per eight patients, but the managers tried to stretch this to one per twelve. So, perhaps it is a case of higher ups not wanting to pay out more for caregivers. As a result, burnout, stress, and short tempers are common with nurses’ aides.
But this is just a part of a larger picture, and a growing problem. As the nation gets older and more families look to nursing homes to care for their family members, there may be further reports of abuse and neglect.
If you suspect your loved one may be the victim of nursing home abuse, please contact the experienced nursing home abuse attorneys at the Cochran Firm. We have offices nationwide.
Take the story of a nursing home on the border of Tennessee and Virginia, for example. For nearly a decade, workers claim that a nurses’ aide molested those who were supposed to be in his care. These allegations come from both employees, as well as patients. While this may not necessarily be news, in the sense that this happens more than people care to admit, what is news is that despite complaint after complaint, the man was allowed to keep his job.
The nursing home is part of the National HealthCare Corp. (NHC), a conglomerated of nursing homes stretching across the country. Employees of the nursing home have described the managers at NHC as seemingly indifferent when they told them of the nurses’ aide’s conduct. As a result of this attitude, many of the employees quit in frustration. This went on until 2007 when the nurses’ aide was given the ultimatum of leave or be terminated. However, he quickly began working at another nursing home nearby. The case is now being investigated by Tennessee authorities. However, NHC has made the news before due to lack of quality care, payments made to injured patients and families, as well as a fire that killed 16 patients in a Nashville nursing home in 2003. (The law in Tennessee didn’t require the home have sprinklers, so they were never added.)
This is simply one example of what goes on. There are many cases that never make the news and many cases of family members confused as to why their elderly loved ones seem to be acting in ways that leave the family with questions and suspicions. Unfortunately, getting answers from the nursing home administration may be difficult. If a nursing home patient has dementia, how can what they say or how they act be trusted?
Nursing home abuse and neglect may be due to several factors. One of those is that many nursing home employees are spread thin. Even in an economic downturn, there simply are not enough people working in nursing homes. The home in Tennessee was supposed to be one aide per eight patients, but the managers tried to stretch this to one per twelve. So, perhaps it is a case of higher ups not wanting to pay out more for caregivers. As a result, burnout, stress, and short tempers are common with nurses’ aides.
But this is just a part of a larger picture, and a growing problem. As the nation gets older and more families look to nursing homes to care for their family members, there may be further reports of abuse and neglect.
If you suspect your loved one may be the victim of nursing home abuse, please contact the experienced nursing home abuse attorneys at the Cochran Firm. We have offices nationwide.
posted by Benjamin A. Irwin at 9:27 AM
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