Protecting Nursing Home Residents During the COVID-19 Emergency
While exposure to COVID-19 is dangerous for all of us, certain individuals, face an especially high risk of contracting the illness. For instance, elderly individuals are already more vulnerable to respiratory illnesses like COVID-19, but the lack of isolation in nursing homes means that residents are even more at risk of contracting COVID-19, especially if a nursing home has failed to implement proper health and safety standards.
If you believe that the nursing home where your relative resides was negligent in containing COVID-19, you could be entitled to compensation for your loved one’s medical bills and other losses. Please call one of our dedicated Florida coronavirus (COVID-19) exposure attorneys today to learn more about your legal options.
Developing a Plan
One of the best things that the family members of nursing home residents can do at this time of uncertainty is to ask the facility’s administrator about their strategy for handling the COVID-19 outbreak. Although each plan will vary depending on the facility’s particular circumstances, these plans should include a quarantine strategy and a method for compiling enough supplies to care for all ill residents.
It’s also a good idea for the relatives of residents to have a plan in place in the event that a loved one does contract COVID-19. This could include checking in with the relative’s primary care doctor, asking the nursing home to hospitalize their loved one if he or she shows signs of contracting the illness, and having the contact information of nearby hospitals and ambulance services on-hand.
Researching the Nursing Home’s Ratings
Relatives of nursing home residents may also want to consider looking up the sanitation and staffing ratings at their loved one’s facility. A poor sanitation rating could be a red flag that a resident has an increased risk of exposure due to lower standards for cleanliness. Poor staffing ratings, on the other hand, could reveal that a facility doesn’t have enough employees, meaning that staff members are unable to provide the proper level of care to each resident.
Staying in Contact
If possible, those whose relatives currently reside in nursing homes in Florida, should stay in contact with their loved ones. While visiting someone in a nursing home in-person has been prohibited (except in a few specific circumstances), it is still possible to reach out by phone, email, and video calls. In these cases, relatives should also call the facility regularly to inquire about a resident’s health, as well as the specific steps being taken to keep conditions sanitary. In the event that someone at the facility has already tested positive for COVID-19, relatives should find out what steps are being taken to quarantine the infected individuals.
Speak to Our Fort Lauderdale Lawyers
If the negligence of the nursing home where your loved one lives led to a COVID-19 outbreak, please call 954-566-9919 to speak with one of the experienced COVID-19 exposure lawyers at Boone & Davis about filing a nursing home neglect lawsuit.
Resource:
cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-announces-new-measures-protect-nursing-home-residents-covid-19
