Woman Covered In Bruises, Hospitalized After Nursing Home Accident

 

Woman Covered in Bruises in Houston Nursing Home Incident

According to a Fox26 News Report, a Houston-area grandmother was covered in bruises and hospitalized on August 2, 2023, after an alleged abuse incident in her nursing home facility.

The woman’s granddaughter reported that the nursing home told her that her grandmother fell early in the morning and wasn’t discovered until later. However, the granddaughter reported that they delayed allowing paramedics to take the injured woman to the hospital. Also, it was discovered at the hospital that the woman was severely bruised on her arms, backside, and head and had an untreated infection and a concussion. Texas Health and Human Services and the police are investigating the incident.

Did You Know?

The elderly represent 20% of hospitalizations for burn injuries in the U.S., a much greater rate than the rest of the population.

Nursing Home Burn Injuries in Texas

Nursing home neglect and abuse happen far too often in Texas and across the country. One of the most common (and painful) injuries victims of nursing home abuse receive is burn injuries.

Common Causes of Burn Injuries in Nursing Homes

When most people think of nursing home abuse, they imagine physical abuse or falls. However, burn injuries are very common in nursing home neglect.

Those 65 and older have more sensitive and thinner skin than middle-aged and younger people. They also have slower reaction times, trouble seeing, decreased coordination, and potential side effects of medication to make them more vulnerable to serious burns. Common ways that residents are burned in nursing homes include:

• Hot bath water – Bath water heated to 120 degrees can seriously burn an older person’s skin. They can contract 3rd-degree burns in only 10 minutes in water of that temperature.
• Hot Drinks and Food – Conditions common among older people, like Parkinson’s and arthritis, can increase the chance of spills leading to severe burns if they are not properly supervised.
• Unsupervised Smoking – Residents who smoke (if smoking is even allowed at the facility, which most do not) must be properly supervised to ensure their safety. Some facilities require flame-resistant apparel when smoking in addition to supervision.

These burn injury scenarios can be prevented by proper supervision and well-trained staff and should never happen. Nursing homes have a responsibility to provide a safe environment for their residents, and when they allow them to be burned, the aftermath can be far-reaching.

The Aftermath of Burn Injuries in Nursing Homes

Older burn patients do not recover as quickly as their younger counterparts and are more like to need ongoing or additional treatments for:

• Shock
• Sepsis and other Infections
• Organ Failure
• Excision and Grafting
• Death

Nursing home neglect and abuse should have consequences. An experienced personal injury attorney at Carabin Shaw can help you hold the responsible parties liable for the injuries they caused your loved one, including:

• Pain and Suffering Damages
• Lost Wages
• Cost of Transitioning to a New Facility
• Medical Expenses
• and Burial and Funeral Expenses

Hire Carabin Shaw Personal Injury Attorneys

If your parent or grandparent was injured in a nursing home in Texas, contact the Carabin Shaw personal injury attorneys who specialize in nursing home neglect cases. We have 30 years of experience representing those injured in nursing homes in San Antonio and across Texas, and we care. Contact the attorneys who put their clients first today at 800-862-1260 or via the live chat at the bottom right of your screen. We look forward to serving you.