Staff working in nursing homes in Homestead and Florida often love the chance to make a difference with their work. Unfortunately, injuries among staff at these facilities is higher than many people realize. These injuries may also be on the rise, as seniors live longer and as staff are expected to deal with patients who are more seriously ill. Patients who would have required hospitalization years ago can now live in assisted living facilities and nursing homes, thanks to medical advancements. Unfortunately, this can place added strain on nursing home staff.
Work injuries for Homestead and Florida nursing home staff can include:
- Broken bones from slip and fall and trip and fall incidents
- Injuries and lacerations from violence, especially from patients and families
- Strain and injuries caused by lifting patients
- Traffic accidents caused by fatigued driving after many hours on shift
Nursing homes can do many things to stem the tide of injuries. They can:
- Increase lighting and security at nursing homes
- Hire more staff so workers are not overwhelmed
- Offer proper staff training
- Screen residents and place those who might be a risk into areas where staff can get more support during care duties
- Have processes in place for complaints and injuries
- Clean up unsafe flooring, stairs, and spills quickly
- Have devices in place to help staff move larger patients easily
- Offer appropriate medical care for residents, so their behavior stays as stable as possible for as long as possible
Consider: many jobs limit how much a worker must lift. In nursing homes, however, staff may need to lift a 200-pound patient to help get them into a bath or wheelchair. In addition, nursing home staff may need to work with patients who have dementia and may lash out at any time.
Injured at Work?
If you work in a nursing home in Homestead or anywhere in South Florida and have been injured, you may have options. You may be eligible for workers’ compensation, which helps you pay for lost wages while you recover from your injury as well as for medical care. In some cases, injured workers may have a legal claim to help you recover their costs.
If you work in a nursing home, you deserve to be able to care for residents without risking your health or safety. If you are injured, you should not have to worry about how you will pay for medicine, treatment, or your bills.
Have you been injured on the job in South Florida? Contact Flaxman Law Group at 1-866-352-9626 (1-866-FLAXMAN) to arrange a free, confidential, and no-obligation consultation with a Homestead workplace injury lawyer. Our team has more than 60 years of combined experience and would be happy to listen to your concerns and help you understand your options. We have recovered tens of millions of dollars in behalf of thousands of plaintiffs. We have multiple resources and a track record of court wins and settlements.