Nursing Homes in the U.S. Unprepared for Emergencies and Disasters
Nursing homes nationwide are “woefully unprepared” to protect frail residents in the event of natural disasters such as tornadoes, hurricanes, and floods, government officials say. According to a news report in The Huffington Post, Oklahoma is one of the top 10 disaster-prone states ranked by historical statistics. The government requires nursing homes to come up with emergency plans specifying details such as coordinating with local authorities, notifying relatives, or pinning nametags and medication lists to residents in the event of an evacuation. Even seven years after Hurricane Katrina when the vulnerability of nursing homes was exposed, very little has been done to ensure that nursing home residents will be safe in the event of a major disaster.
This is particularly important because millions in the United States live in nursing homes. According to available data, more than 3 million people in the United States spent at least some time in a nursing home during the year 2009. Nearly 40 percent of those individuals, about 1.2 million, were in the top 10 disaster-prone states, including Oklahoma. A typical nursing home resident is a woman in her 80s or older who is dealing with physical or mental issues that make her dependent on others to carry out everyday activities.
It is the responsibility of nursing homes to ensure that their residents are safe and secure under all circumstances. Nursing homes are required to screen employees or prospective workers, keep their premises safe, and to make sure that their residents who depend on them receive quality care. Often, this does not happen because of nursing homes that try to cut corners and maximize their profits by understaffing their facilities and neglecting their frail residents.
If you or a loved one has been the victim of nursing home abuse or neglect, an experienced Oklahoma City nursing home negligence lawyer at Maples Law Firm can help you better understand your legal rights and options. Please contact us at (405) 705-5050 to find out how we can help you.