A Michigan State University researcher is trying to find out what causes elder abuse in

nursing homes.

Carolyn Pickering is going straight to the source and asking certified nurse aides what they think the problems are.

Pickering said procedures for lifting and moving patients, bringing in patients with different skill levels, and understaffing are some things she’s found can contribute to an unsafe work environment.

While criminals can sneak into the nursing home system, Pickering said that’s not normally the source of elderly abuse.

A major problem is simply being understaffed. Many good nurses and aides are forced to neglect patients, Pickering said. Neglect and poor care often happens, not because workers are bad people, but because they are given very little and they’re required to perform a ton work not possible by just one person in the given amount of time. She added that aides sometimes have to prioritize patients and not tend to all, even though all patients need and deserve attention and care.

Part of the problem is nursing homes are only required to have one registered nurse on duty for eight hours a day. Although of course, people have a choice of nursing homes, in reality, that choice is limited by finances and geography. While roughly 90 percent of nursing homes are for profit, Pickering says non-profit homes, some of which may have a religious affiliation, tend to provide the best care.

Why Do I Need a Nursing Home Abuse Attorney?

We are a trial law firm, and while we are more than capable of negotiating a settlement, we do not hesitate to take our clients’ cases to trial if that is what is in their best interests. Other ways that the Georgia personal injury lawyers at the McArthur Law Firm serve their nursing home abuse and neglect clients include:

• Preventing nursing homes from blocking access to or hiding evidence and important information
• Conducting a thorough and aggressive investigation of the incident, including collecting photographic evidence, reviewing security footage, interviewing witnesses, gathering and reviewing documentation related to the nursing home and its practices and investigating any employees involved
• Having experts review your family member’s medical records, pinpoint the cause of his or her injuries and calculate what it will cost for your loved one to live with his or her injuries
• Negotiating a fair settlement or taking the case to trial in court
• Preventing abuse from occurring to other innocent people in the future.