Common Infections in Lancaster Nursing Homes
Residents in nursing homes are frailer, have medical conditions, and have weaker immune systems than others. These factors put residents at high risk of infections. A trusted lawyer with McDonald At Law could share indicators of infections in long-term care facilities.
Diseases often found in these residential facilities include:
COVID-19
Residents in nursing homes are vulnerable to contracting COVID-19. Many of the residents have illnesses and live-in close proximity, allowing the virus to spread quickly. Long-term care facilities must take every precaution to protect the home, residents, and staff from contracting the virus.
Sepsis
Sepsis is a severe medical condition that can start with a bacteria, virus, or fungal infection. When the body is trying to fight the underlying disease, sepsis may occur if the body’s chemicals are out of balance.
Bed Sores
Bedsores are preventable and occur as the result of neglect. The wounds are excruciating, and the resident endures pain and suffering.
Urinary Tract Infections
Residents who use catheters often have diabetes, Alzheimer’s, or dementia, and limited mobility are at high risk for urinary tract infections or UTIs. Caregivers at the facilities must watch for symptoms and provide care immediately when they show signs of a UTI.
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus- MRSA
MRSA is a deadly bacterium that infects and causes illness to residents in nursing homes around the country each year. The bacteria is resistant to most antibiotics and transmits efficiently.
Preventing Infection and Illness in Long-Term Care Facilities
Infections can transmit either through the exchange of bodily fluids or through the air. The hazardous viruses and bacteria that cause severe illness can survive for days if the facility is not clean and sanitary. When care homes do not keep their facilities hygienic, they put all their residents and staff at risk. Facilities should always practice the following steps:
- Ensuring residents receive regular bathing and proper daily care
- Regular handwashing for staff and residents
- Quarantine of residents with contagious diseases, or if they suspect they may have one
- Caretakers always wear gloves when tending to residents
- Contacting an outside medical professional immediately upon symptoms of infection or disease
- Sanitary waste disposal
- Wearing protective gear, including gown, mask, and gloves when interacting with residents with a highly infectious disease
Anyone suspecting their loved one’s infection stemmed from neglect at a nursing home should speak with a compassionate attorney at McDonald At Law in Lancaster right away to learn how.
Lancaster Statute of Limitations
The state sets a deadline for filing a legal action in personal injury claims. Pennsylvania Statutes Title 42 § 5524 states that the claimant in a nursing home neglect or abuse case has two years to file the legal claim from the date of injuries or death of the resident. A knowledgeable lawyer with McDonald At Law could answer questions on this or any other statutes regarding infections in long-term care facilities.
Consult with a Lancaster Attorney about Infections in Nursing Homes
Filing a claim against the facility not only helps to bring justice for your loved one, but it also deters future abuse and neglect from taking place. If your loved one is suffering severe or recurrent infections in the care of a nursing home, resources and help is available.
Staff members must keep facilities sanitary and safe for their residents. When the nursing home is not sterile, and residents become ill, a court could hold them responsible for damages and losses. Reach out to an experienced attorney at McDonald At Law about infections in Lancaster nursing homes today.
