Infections in Hartford Nursing Homes

Nursing homes and other long-term care facilities can be hotbeds for disease transmission, especially if they are not kept clean and sanitary. In addition, nursing homes tend to be populated by residents who are already dealing with chronic medical problems and immune system deficiencies, making disease an even greater threat.

Unfortunately, not every nursing home staff member and administrator takes this threat as seriously as they should, which sometimes leads to residents contracting life-altering and often life-threatening illnesses. If your family member has suffered preventable harm from an infection in a Hartford nursing home, a nursing home negligence lawyer from Berkowitz and Hanna LLC can help you enforce your right to demand civil restitution on your loved one’s behalf.

What Must Nursing Homes Do to Prevent Infections?

While nursing homes in Hartford are not expected to prevent any kind of infection or illness from ever affecting any one of their residents, they do have a responsibility to minimize the spread and development of disease in their facilities to the fullest extent possible. On a basic level, this means facilities must have specific procedures in place for regularly cleaning and sanitizing both public and private spaces and ensure all employees understand and follow said procedures at all times.

Furthermore, these facilities must quarantine residents who do get sick from other residents when necessary. This practice helps ensure sick residents get proper and prompt medical treatment from qualified professionals. Failing to do these things may constitute legally actionable negligence if it directly leads to a resident sustaining serious harm from an avoidable infection.

Suing Over Different Types of Infections and Illnesses

It is important to recognize that not every illness or infection contracted in a Hartford nursing home will necessarily justify a lawsuit. While even the common cold can be dangerous for elderly people, a sickness would only serve as valid grounds for a civil claim if it could have been prevented through more diligent care by nursing home staff members. To be eligible for legal recourse, the illness must have caused serious physical harm to the resident in question.

With this in mind, the kinds of illnesses that most commonly play into cases of this nature include:

  • Respiratory illnesses like pneumonia, influenza, and COVID-19
  • Staph infections, especially ones involving methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
  • Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
  • Clostridium difficile infections and other gastrointestinal problems
  • Skin conditions like scabies and bedsores
  • Sepsis or infections of the blood

A seasoned lawyer can offer custom-tailored guidance about your possible legal options during your free initial consultation.

A Hartford Attorney Can Help Seek Recovery for a Nursing Home Infection

Every nursing home resident deserves to have sanitary living conditions at all times within the facility they call home. Unfortunately, many nursing homes fail to provide that level of care to their residents, as you and your loved one may have learned the hard way.

You have help available from knowledgeable and compassionate legal counsel. Call Berkowitz and Hanna LLC today to learn more about whether suing over infections in Hartford nursing homes is an option for you.