According to statistics, nearly 1.5 million Americans live in 16,000 nursing facilities. Approximately 88% of these individuals belong to the age group of 65 and above. It is expected to reach 5.3 million by the end of 2030.
Image by Gerd Altmann
The number of elders in nursing homes is growing exponentially because of the lack of time with younger generations. As the parents grow old, they require help from their kids to take care of themselves. However, kids tend to stay busy with their work, not being able to pay attention to their parents. So, they take help from nursing homes.
What Is A Nursing Home?
Nursing homes are also known as skilled nursing facilities, long-term care facilities, and assisted living facilities. They have qualified staff, including caregivers, doctors, and other non-medical staff. They are responsible for taking utmost care of their parents for their good health and well-being.
Unfortunately, statistics are speaking about something else. Over the years, patients or elders residing in assisted living facilities in the US are becoming sicker. It’s estimated that 2 million infections spread in the US annually.
Causes Of Infection
There are numerous reasons behind the rise in different infections in nursing homes. Some prominent reasons are given below:
- The indwelling and poorly maintained devices
- Poor hygiene or an unclean environment
- Unhealthy or low-quality food
- Understaffing or overworked staff
Any of these factors can lead to the spread of infection within the premises, affecting the health of your loved one severely. If you notice any of these risk factors or observe the poor health of your family member, you can hold the assisted living staff accountable for their actions. It would be wise to speak with a nursing home abuse attorney as they can help you learn about your rights and get financial compensation.
With that being said, let’s learn about the common infections:
Common Infections In Nursing Homes
Although it is not possible to provide an accurate estimate of the types of infections one might find in assisted living facilities, the common infections nursing home residents diagnose with are as follow:
According to studies, pneumonia and other related lower respiratory tract infections are one of the leading causes of fatal injuries among elders. Nearly 10 to 18% of elders account for hospitalized pneumonia cases. The signs of this infection include:
- Fever, swelling, and chills
- Loss of appetite and fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain and cough (with or without mucus)
- Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
If you notice any of these signs in your family member, get them checked immediately.
UTI, or Urinary Tract Infection, is another infection that affects the majority of assisted living residents. The causes of UTIs could be pre-medical conditions or poor hygiene. Indwelling catheters are reported to increase the risk of infection. So, you must look for the following signs of infection:
- Pain or pressure in the lower abdomen
- Burning feeling during pee
- Cloudy, dark, bloody, or strange-smelling pee
- Frequent urge to pee
- Feeling tired and shaky
- Fever or chills
Urinary Tract infection is also of different types Cystitis (bladder), Cystitis (bladder), and Urethritis (urethra). It is critical to get tested to confirm the diagnosis of infection and seek appropriate treatment.
Studies have shown that the risk of diarrheal disease is four times higher in nursing homes. Viral and bacterial gastroenteritis is the prime cause of this disease. Typically, elders do not produce enough gastric acid; thus, they have the risk of developing this condition. It can also be related to mortality or morbidity due to dehydration. The signs to look out for include:
- Weight loss
- Abdominal cramps
- Stomach pain
- Body pain
- Persistent vomiting
- Blood in stool
Diarrhea can also be an underlying cause of some severe health conditions. Therefore, diagnosis and treatment are recommended for the improvement of the condition as soon as possible.
In addition to these, some other common infections that you should pay attention to include:
- Respiratory infections
- Skin infections
- Soft-tissue infections
It would be wise to observe how nursing homes are taking care of the situation of rising infection. And if they are behaving recklessly and not avoiding taking appropriate measures, you must disclose the same to your attorney when filing a lawsuit.
To Sum It All Up
These are the common infections your loved ones might get diagnosed with while residing in poorly maintained and understaffed assisted living facilities. Therefore, you must visit them frequently and ask whether or not the facility provided to them is up to the mark. Consulting an attorney will also help you fight for the rights of your family members and avail necessary financial compensation.