Nursing Home Burn Injuries

Moving a loved one into a nursing home or other long-term care facility is no small matter for any family. There is the obvious strain of removing them from their homes, the costs of living can be exorbitant and the always looming concern of poor or improper care of your loved one. Families must put a lot of trust in a facility to not only look after their health, but to make sure they live comfortable lives.

Unfortunately, negligence in nursing homes results in the injury and death of thousands of elderly Americans each year. Of the many types of injuries that can occur in long-term care facilities, one of the most serious is burns.

Causes of Nursing Home Burns

Thinner skin, diminished senses and limited mobility can reduce an elderly person’s reaction time, allowing for more severe burn injuries.

Some of the most common causes of burns in nursing homes and long-term care facilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Exposure to hot or scalding water, such as during a bath or shower
  • Contact with radiators or heaters
  • Using heated appliances, such as coffee makers, stovetops, microwave ovens and curling irons
  • Unsupervised cigarette smoking or candle burning
  • Accidental fires

Why Does Nursing Home Burns Occur?

Frequently, the underlying cause is simply that many nursing homes and long-term care facilities are understaffed and/or the available staff is overworked and undertrained. While most incidents are the result of an accident, these oversights are the exact thing that around-the-clock care is meant to prevent. Whether due to forgetfulness or lack of common sense on the part of the staff member, it is negligent, especially when incidents occur more than once.

When Nursing Home Burns Happen, It’s Important To Determine Who Is At Fault

Nursing home lawsuits don’t just help victims of abuse and neglect recover compensation for their damages, but also act to send a message to nursing home and long-term care facilities that the law will protect residents and see to it that abuse and neglect will be punished.

If your loved one has been hurt by unsafe conditions in a nursing home, then we encourage you to contact us online or by phone at 800-800-5678 to discuss your loved one’s rights and potential recovery. We would be happy to provide you with a free consultation so that your family can make an informed decision.