The moment when you’re forced to move a loved one into a care facility is hard on both you and them.
But then you tell yourself it’s for the best and that they’ll have the best care possible. Their needs will be attended to and they’ll be perfectly safe, so although it’s not easy, it’s the right thing to do.
And yet, the truth is that preventable medical harm is still alarmingly common in these facilities, and the worst part is, a lot of it goes unnoticed. These aren’t rare incidents we’re talking about, but problems that could have (and should have) been avoided with proper care and training in place.
There are countless ways things can go wrong and the ripple effects?
They’re very real.
Many families see them as a cruel surprise because they’re left in total shock at the fact that a place that was supposed to be safe actually made things worse than ever.
The Scope of the Problem
Senior care means a lot of different things, and it happens in many different settings.
Each of them, of course, comes with its own issues and risks. Some older adults live in nursing homes, others in assisted living facilities, where they still get help with daily tasks, but there’s less medical oversight.
A lot of seniors also get in-home care, where nurses and aides visit them to help with medications, keep an eye on their health, and assist with whatever they need help with.
Regardless of the setting, there’s always a chance of preventable harm. And you could dismiss this as a risk of simply living life every day because risks are all around us, but the problem is, many of these issues are purposely hidden from families until it’s too late.
Besides, a healthy adult leaving their house is living their life according to their own rules, and they’re the ones responsible for the consequences of their actions. A helpless older adult with health issues, dependent on the care of others?
That’s a different situation entirely.
The impact of preventable harm could be devastating. Long hospital stays, a decline in mobility and independence, slower recovery, bed sores, and lowered quality of life are just some of them.
Naturally, if any of this ever happened to your loved one, the best thing to do would be to look into lawsuits for stage 4 pressure sores, falls, or whatever it is that your family member experienced, and then contact an attorney.
Where the System Breaks Down
Some facilities are so well-run that you think nothing bad ever happens there.
But the risk of preventable harm exists literally everywhere because the problem is with the system itself, and it often fails the very people it/s meant to protect.
Here are the three main sources of problems.
1. Missing and Hidden Reports
One of the biggest problems in senior care is that when incidents happen, they don’t always get reported.
Caregivers are afraid of penalties, so they choose to act like nothing happened. Other times, they’re confused by all the rules they need to follow, so they’re not sure whether they need to file a report or not.
Families might never even learn about the problem that occurred, and, without accurate records, administrators and regulators can’t spot neglect and take necessary action to prevent it from happening again.
2. Weak Oversight
In theory, facilities get frequent inspections. In reality, oversight is uneven and fragmented. Inspection schedules vary by state, and it usually comes down to checking the paperwork instead of actual resident outcomes. And even when inspectors catch some issues, penalties are usually either weak or delayed. Is there really an incentive for facilities to make actual, long-lasting changes? Not really.
3. Staffing and Training Gaps
Facilities in the U.S. are chronically understaffed, which means that caregivers are stretched too thin and simply unable to care for each resident properly.
They’re overworked, which causes them to miss some signs of deterioration and make mistakes that could have been prevented. It’s not that they’re bad people out to abuse seniors; it’s that they’re exhausted.
Another issue is a lack of training. Some caregivers get hardly any instruction in complex but essential tasks like preventing wounds or managing medications.
Without proper training and an adequate number of staff, caregivers can put residents in harm’s way, even if they have the best intentions.
Conclusion
Is this just a series of unfortunate accidents?
No.
It’s a reflection of the system that’s stretched too thin. And don’t kid yourself with thinking that these types of issues happen to ‘other people’ because no facility is perfect, and problems happen every single day. They can happen to any caregiver and to any family.
How do we change this?
By bringing awareness to the problem and pushing the authorities to make corrections. We all have the responsibility of keeping our seniors safe.
This article was written for WHN by Abdul R., who is a content creator and wellness advocate.
As with anything you read on the internet, this article should not be construed as medical advice; please talk to your doctor or primary care provider before changing your wellness routine. WHN neither agrees nor disagrees with any of the materials posted. This article is not intended to provide a medical diagnosis, recommendation, treatment, or endorsement.
Opinion Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy of WHN/A4M. Any content provided by guest authors is of their own opinion and is not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone or anything else. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
