New Oklahoma Law Could Protect Seniors from Nursing Home Abuse

A new law that went into effect on Saturday, March 1st, could help prevent nursing home abuse in Oklahoma.

The Oklahoma Long Term Care Security Act aims to cut down on nursing home abuse, which is rampant in the state, by performing national-level criminal background checks on potential employees, using fingerprints.

The nursing home abuse law was passed two years ago, and formally went into effect on March 1st, 2014.

“This is a step in the right direction,” said Wes Bledsoe, an advocate for improved care in Oklahoma’s nursing homes.

According to statistics, Oklahoma has some of the worst nursing home abuse rates in the country. Local nursing home abuse prevention foundation A Perfect Cause reported that 3,500 Oklahomans die each year from nursing home abuse and negligence.

However, Bledsoe worries that the fingerprint-based background checks will not be enough to prevent nursing home abuse.

“How do we do criminal background checks on foreign nationals?” he said. Many employees in nursing homes are from another country.

Bledsoe added that a clause in the law allowed convicted criminals to work in nursing homes 7 years after their conviction in cases of assault, battery, and robbery, even though the crimes that convicted them were committed in nursing homes.

“Most of us would probably not hire someone like that to work in our homes,” he said. “It makes no sense.”

Additionally, the law is not retroactive and will only apply to new employees, so it could had several months or years for employee turnover to show a lower rate of nursing home abuse.

Five Signs of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect

1. Bedsores and Unexplained Rashes

A bedsore, also called decubitis ulcer, is a pressure sore which typically arise if a patient is not turned frequently and is lying on a low quality mattress without overlays. Typically bedsores are seen at the heels of the feet, back of the knees, buttocks, and other boney parts of the body. A bedsore may be treated with antibiotics. However, if the antibiotics do not work, amputation may be the only means of saving the life of the patient. A patient may die from sepsis, or blood poisoning as a result of the bed sore.

2. Unexplained or Undocumented Falls

Many times, when these patients experience a fall, they are left with lacerations, abrasions, bone fractures, disfigurement, and even head injuries. Nursing Home staff may fail to report how the patient sustained such injuries and/or fail to examine the full extent of the injuries.

3. Malnutrition and Dehydration

In some circumstances elderly patients may require a special diet and/or may not be able to feed themselves. If nursing home staffs fail to provide for the patient’s needs malnutrition or dehydration may result.

4. Body Odor, Soiled Sheets or Clothing, Unkempt

If your loved one looks messy and appears un-bathed this should come as a red flag for nursing home neglect. Nursing home staff have a duty to care for your loved one, this includes routine bathing, changing of linens, and making sure your loved one is fed.

5. Injury sustained from Elopement and Wandering

When a nursing home patient wanders away from a facility, they are unknowingly putting themselves in danger. Nursing home staff have an obligation to ensure that no elderly patient will walk away from the premises.  Wandering occurs when a resident is left to roam aimlessly around the facility with no supervision.

The Strom Law Defends Victims of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect

If your loved one has physically suffered, or died wrongfully, due to neglect or abuse in a nursing home, you may have a nursing home abuse case. The attorneys at the Strom Law Firm understand the sensitive nature of elder abuse cases, and will treat you with respect and compassion. It is important to fight elder abuse so you, your family, and others no longer suffer because of criminal behavior. We offer free, confidential consultations to discuss the facts of your case. Contact us today for help.803.252.4800