About the Nursing Home Law Center

Under federal and state law, nursing homes are held to specific standards of care and undergo regular and random inspections to meet the minimum requirements. You can access these reports to help you make an informed decision about a care facility or pursue legal action if you believe they violate the law. Here’s everything you…

The most common causes of hip fractures in nursing homes are falls. Falls are typically caused by accident hazards in the nursing home area and the lack of adequate supervision. Slippery floors, poorly lit areas, and failure to provide necessary mobility aids like walkers or handrails are common accident hazards. Many nursing homes are understaffed,…

Hip fracture in older adults is a serious injury, sometimes with poor outcomes such as infections, decreased mobility, and even death. According to statistics, the hip fracture mortality rate in the first year after the incident is between 18% and 31%, making it one of the most severe bone fractures a person can experience. [1]…

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that happens when the body has an extreme reaction to an infection. Usually, your body fights off infections to keep you healthy, but with sepsis, your immune response goes into overdrive and attacks your organs and tissues. This extreme response can cause widespread inflammation, leading to organ failure and, in…

Nursing home abuse is a problem that plagues many assisted living facilities nationwide. Seniors in nursing homes are at a higher risk of being abused due to their physical and mental vulnerability. Often, they are unaware of what’s happening to them, or they are too afraid to do something about it, especially if the abuse…

Moving into a nursing home is a significant life change. Whether you are going to be the resident or have a loved one making the change, nursing homes are supposed to be safe places for elderly individuals with medical needs.  They also provide a community for a population that can sometimes feel isolated. Unfortunately, not…

Like most medical professionals, aspiring nursing home employees must undergo background checks and screenings. Some elements in a person’s history can disqualify them from working in nursing homes.  Required background checks ensure only trustworthy people can work in nursing homes. We trust our most vulnerable population with staff, and it’s not a profession most take…

It can be a difficult decision to put your loved one in a nursing home. They may feel they are losing their autonomy and become isolated from their support structure. However, they must meet standards of care to maintain their certifications.  With all the oversight, there are things nursing homes are not allowed to do…

A nursing home is supposed to be a place of care, but that’s not always the case. Unfortunately, many patients can face injuries or even die at nursing homes. These circumstances were often preventable, leaving loved ones angry and confused.   In this article, we’ll discuss the leading causes of death in nursing homes, what to…

We’ve all experienced dehydration at some point, maybe after a long day in the sun or due to not drinking enough water. Could something as familiar as dehydration lead to an issue as serious as sepsis? Dehydration and sepsis are more closely related than most realize. Your immune system can become impaired when your body…