Hundreds of California Nursing Homes Have Infection-Control Violation Cases

Approximately 82% of the nearly 1.200 Nursing Homes battling outbreaks of the novel coronavirus in California have been cited repeatedly by inspectors in the past two years for violating federal infection-control standards, according to the Sacramento Bee.

Since 2018, the local Nursing Home industry accumulated hundreds of deficiencies for unsafe conditions that can prompt the spread of flu, pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and skin diseases. Dozens were identified only months before the epidemic started.

Nursing Homes Have Infection

It is hard to say whether these violations aggravated the outbreak or whether any level of preparation would have been enough to protect against a previously unidentified pathogen, but facilities that already have a history of infection-control violations may put older patients at particular risk of COVID-19 infections.

Given the rapid spread of the virus, Nursing Homes need to plan and provide effective infection-control strategies to prevent Nursing Home patients and Assisted-Living Facility residents from contracting this deadly illness. In recent weeks, COVID-19 has spread through almost every Skilled Nursing Facility in California, leaving many older adults with severe and fatal COVID-19 infections.

Other Forms of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect May Still Occur

In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) ordered Nursing Home inspectors to “focus entirely on infection control” according to the Sacramento Bee article, in order to lessen the risks of coronavirus exposure.

And while infection control is indeed important—and essential during this moment—a failure to focus on other forms of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect could leave residents in difficult situations and various cases of abuse could go unaddressed.

Contact an Elder Abuse Attorney in Your County

Right now, it is crucial to know if you have an elderly loved one in a facility with a history of infection-control violations in the state of California. If you need assistance with an Elder Healthcare Abuse claim or have concerns about a facility’s safety record, experienced Elder Abuse Attorneys in Los Angeles. We can help you so Contact us at 888-288-0091 or schedule a free consultation to learn more about how we can help with your case.