Elder Abuse Compensation
Elderly people are vulnerable, and sadly many old people do not receive the care they need. Whilst the majority of nursing and care homes in the UK are providing a professional and caring environment for the elderly there are unfortunately cases of abuse and neglect of old people in care homes happening each year.
When a person takes up residency in a nursing home there will be a contract drawn up between the nursing home and the resident. This will detail the obligations between the nursing home and the resident. Obligations in the contract will be reviewed to make sure the home is fulfilling the obligations set out.
On admission to a nursing home a nursing assessment should be done in full and all medical conditions noted and recorded. A risk assessment should also be completed and an action plan recorded and implemented following the assessment. Failure to follow or implement the plan could show negligence.
There are 2 types of errors that are sometimes made by nursing and care homes. These are omission errors and commission errors.
Omission errors are where the home fails to provide the right services and treatment. This can include things like:
- Giving the right nutrition and hydration or maintaining a record of this
- Failing to complete a full nursing assessment followed by a care plan based on the assessment results
- Failing to do a risk assessment and risk prevention plan
- Not reporting changes in their physical or mental condition
- Failure to follow safety protocols
Commission errors are actions that deviate from the accepted standards and practices, these can include:
- Giving harmful treatment or drugs
- Any mental, physical or sexual abuse
- Not administering treatment or medicine
- Improper invasive treatment of the resident
Sometimes a nursing or care home do not have adequate staff to look after the residents, this is why some errors occur. Insufficient staff levels are quite often the reason for abuse or neglect of the elderly in nursing or care homes.
Whatever the reason our elders deserve to be protected from any type of neglect or abuse. Whilst no amount of money could ever compensate for what they have suffered it could help the victim feel a little more comfortable as they try and move on.
Any elderly victim of abuse that has suffered physical or mental harm as a result of the abuse may be able to claim compensation against those who run the nursing home or care home for failing in their duty of care to the injured person.
Contact Precision Claims
Call one of our experienced elderly abuse team for more advice on 0844 704 1945 or complete our online enquiry form and one of the team will call you back.
