Floresville: Knowing Texas State Standard for Nursing Homes

Texas has twice in a row been ranked worst in the United States for nursing home cleanliness and safety. Nursing facility residents in Floresville, San Antonio, and elsewhere in Texas are no exception.

Nursing home neglect can affect anyone in Floresville, and knowing Texas state standards for nursing homes and maintaining general awareness of these parameters are critical methods of prevention and mitigation on behalf of a victim and his or her family. This is where an experienced lawyer from Carabin Shaw can help.

Unfortunately, Texas officials routinely fail to enforce significant penalties on these facilities. Nursing home abuse statistics in Texas continue to indicate drastic shortfalls. The more you know about nursing home abuse, the more detectable it will become. Some common incidents of nursing home neglect in Floresville which contribute to Texas’ continued failure to pass the state requirements include:

• Hygiene negligence
• Medical negligence
• Emotional/psychological negligence
• Basic needs negligence
• General staff inattentiveness
• Lack of facility cleanliness
• Malnourishment and dehydration

Cases of nursing home abuse occur all too frequently across Texas, and it can happen anywhere. In these cases, an attorney may be your best chance to obtain compensation.

The Texas Department of Human Services (DHS), in association with both state and federal legislature, have developed a basic standard for licensed nursing home facilities’ practices under the Nursing Facility Requirements for Licensure and Medicaid Certification. For continued participation in Texas’ Medicaid program and licensure, certain mandatory characteristics must be present in each nursing home facility in Floresville, San Antonio, and all across South Texas.

By the detailed regulations set forth by these laws, nursing facilities in Texas are required to guarantee residents a few basic rights and comforts. These are broken down in categories within the Nursing Facility Requirements for Licensure and Medicaid Certification Handbook :

• General Requirements:
  The facilities at a nursing home must be designed and upheld with a basic level of maintenance which protects and preserves the rights and wellbeing of its residents.
• Space/Equipment/Resident Rooms:
  Every facility must provide basic quality and availability of basic structural and furnishing needs of each resident in every room, both personal and communal. This includes electrical, plumbing, and mechanical regulations which establish a safe living environment.
• Up-To-Date and Satisfactory Fire Protection Systems:
  Per articles 19.311 and 19.314 of the handbook, every NFPA fire standard and safety code must be met at all times. Facilities must also provide alternate sources of emergency power in case of a blackout. A safety approval certificate from the Office of the Fire Marshal must be displayed. Fire alarms must be fully functional, and fire extinguishers must be available as regulated by the NFPA.
• Right to Voice Grievances:
  Nursing home negligence is an often elusive and difficult problem to identify; despite this, each facility must protect the rights of their residents by providing them with the ability to express grievances and encourage change or improvement when necessary.
• Quality of Life and Care:
  Residents must be provided with a clean, safe dining area as well as well-lit and well-ventilated living areas which can accommodate all manner of activities, complete with definite non-smoking areas. Residents should have continued access to a call system in case of assistance.

These are just the beginning of a long list of regulations which are well documented and should be regulated by every nursing home facility. If this is not the case, you deserve compensation and a chance to live comfortably once again. If you live in Floresville, knowing Texas state standard for nursing homes can be a matter of life and death for the elderly, ill, and infirm across the state. Fortunately, there is a Floresville nursing home abuse lawyer from Carabin Shaw prepared to fight for your right to reparation.

If you or someone you love has been subjected to anything below the proposed state standard for nursing home care, you deserve a voice. The Carabin Shaw attorneys serving Floresville are here for you. We even have bilingual lawyers standing by, ready to help all our Spanish speaking clients. Don’t let Floresville nursing home negligence hinder you or a loved one’s ability to live a full life.

Call the attorneys at Carabin Shaw today toll-free at 800-862-1260.