Nursing homes have a legal duty to ensure that residents enjoy a safe living environment and quality care, an obligation that stems from Florida law and by contract. Unfortunately, far too many assisted living facilities fail to live up to their obligations. One of the biggest threats to residents is understaffing, a problem highlighted in a PBS article. A recent study found that most nursing homes had fewer nurses and caretakers than they reported to officials, leading to significant fluctuations in staffing. Weekends are a particular concern, with staff being responsible for almost twice as many residents.
When nursing homes simply do not have sufficient personnel to deliver essential services and the level of care required by residents, neglect and abuse become serious issues. Because some victims are not in a position to address misconduct on their own, loved ones must often step up to seek justice. If you believe understaffing was behind harm to your loved one, you should contact a Miami nursing home abuse and neglect lawyer right away. It is also important to understand the dangers.
Reasons for Nursing Home Understaffing