Although Hurricane Sandy occurred in October, some nursing home residents are still living in cramped conditions, according to a report from the Associated Press. One assisted living facility and one nursing home reportedly have hundreds of disabled and elderly patients sleeping on cots in a rehabilitation gym, community rooms and chapel.
The number of patients has almost doubled, leaving some to wonder how they can possibly be receiving adequate care. In fact, the report noted one incident where a patient was left at the facility on a cold evening, unnoticed, and two days later showed up at a hospital. The New York attorney general even sent investigators to a facility after it was reported that its patients had expanded to nearly twice the capacity of the building.
There are also concerns surrounding a nursing home whose residents are still signing over their Social Security checks to pay for their room and board even though they haven’t been staying there. Now some are starting to withhold their payments.
Types of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
Nursing home abuse and neglect comes in many forms. Neglect is a type of abuse that stems from a lack of proper care and attention. This could lead to bedsores when patients aren’t turned or are left in the same position for hours at a time, for example.
If residents’ basic needs aren’t met, it could lead to malnutrition or dehydration. A failure to meet medical needs could result in worsening of a condition.
Whether this is the case at any of the facilities that have seen patient load increase as a result of the storm is not clear, based on media reports. If you suspect that a loved one at a facility is being neglected, talk to an attorney who is familiar with these cases and can review the circumstances with you.
Contacting a New York Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
Contact Gacovino, Lake & Associates at 800-246-4878 to set up a consultation with an attorney with whom you may discuss your case. After reviewing your case, we can determine if you may be able to pursue legal action to recover damages.
