Home Practice Areas COVID-19 Nursing Home Lawsuits

COVID-19 Nursing Home Lawyers

Despite what some within this country are attempting to tell us, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an extremely dangerous and highly infectious disease that is causing mass fatalities throughout the globe. One of the many hallmarks of COVID-19 is its tendency to strike most aggressively against elderly individuals or individuals with any sort of underlying health problem. To bolster these pieces of information is the fact that some of the communities hit hardest by the contagious illness are nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.

In an attempt to prevent as much contagion and suffering as possible, the CDC issued a comprehensive set of guidelines specifically created for these locations. In order to protect their residents as much as possible, long-term care facilities (LTCF) are advised to practice these policies without exception.

The Checklist

In the CDC’s advisory announcement, a checklist of necessary steps for these LTCFs outlined the basic requirements for keeping the elderly and immunocompromised safe. Included on this list were things such as:

  • Making sure all facilities were adequately supplied with appropriate resources and tools were an outbreak of COVID-19 to take place.
  • Having a contingency plan ready to employ regarding all visitors and non-essential faculty staff.
  • Up-to-date training and information for employees on how to both identify and respond to a potential case of COVID-19.
  • Appropriate considerations for sick-leave as well as the general health of the staff at LTCFs.
  • The ability to handle any sudden surges of cases as well as all the necessary equipment to implement proper postmortem care for anyone terminally affected by the disease.

The strict following of this checklist remains essential when it comes to keeping a vulnerable population safe, and any deviation from these sorts of practices will place the lives of LTCF residents at risk.

The Guidelines

Along with the checklist, the CDC issued a preliminary set of guidelines for long-term care facilities to follow that are geared towards the maximum protection of their residents. These guidelines were written under the assumption that cases of COVID-19 were likely already present within communities housed at LTCFs and included such measures as:

  • Ending any sort of group event or activity, including communal dining.
  • Heavily limiting any and all visitation to the facility that is not related to essential compassionate care, such as hospice.
  • Heavily limiting any and all workers who are not essential to the continual health of the residents.
  • Continual and vigorous testing within LTCFs to catch any respiratory issues as soon as they develop.

By following these initial guidelines, nursing homes position themselves in the best possible advantage when it comes to preventing the spread of the virus and keeping their communities healthy.

Unfortunately, it is not always the case that individuals are adhering to the rules as much as needed, and the results are potentially fatal.

If you have a loved one living in a LTCF who has become ill or worse as a result of COVID-19, it is possible that their circumstance is the result of a failure on behalf of the long-term care facility itself to create an atmosphere as safe and secure as was outlined by the CDC. While the spread of illness is an omnipresent fact of life, the extremely strict protocol pushed by the CDC would immediately and vigorously protect the elderly currently residing at nursing homes from this new and aggressive virus. Failure on behalf of facility management is a gross act of negligence and irresponsibility that places the people under their care in an extremely tentative and risky situation.

The Law Offices of James O. Cunningham, P.A. have long championed individuals and families negatively impacted by improper nursing home care. While the COVID-19 outbreak is a unique moment in history, it is not unique in terms of the responsibility care providers have towards their patients and residents. If a loved one of yours living in a nursing facility recently contracted COVID-19 due to improper conditions and protocol, then we are here to help. Please contact us today at 877-FL-INJURY (407- 425-2000) to schedule a free initial consultation.

Do I Have A Case?

padlock 100% Secure and Confidential

Martindale Hubbell | Highest Ethical standing
  • 5 StarsMr. Cunningham is an excellent and knowledgeable attorney.

    I would and have recommended Mr. Cunningham as an attorney. I am extremely happy with the service he has provided for me and my family. I will definately use Mr. Cunningham in the future if I ever need an attorney again.

    - John, a Personal Injury client