There are certain nursing home employees laws applicable in every state in the United States of America. There are different types of such facilities out there with specialization in providing rehabilitation and medical care services to those elderly citizens who are addicted to alcohol or drug, are physically or mentally ill, or are just too old to take care of themselves. The employees working in these facilities must abide by the laws. It is their duty to ensure the residents in the facility they are working for are being given the adequate level of care as promised. If your loved one got injured due to the negligence of nursing home employees or management, there are personal injury attorneys that can help you file a claim or lawsuit to get the proper compensation.
Following is a brief rundown on some of the basic points of the laws.
Maintaining Hygiene
As per the nursing home employee laws, the employees working in such facilities are responsible to maintain hygiene, such as they must use sterile equipment, they must ensure that the patients residing there wear clean clothes all the time, and that the rooms the residents are living in also free from any type of pollution. They must provide clean bedding to all patients. If they find any unhygienic condition inside the facility, they must notify the management of the same.
Providing Care To Bedridden Patients
The nursing home employee laws emphasize that the employees must provide adequate additional care to those patients who are confined to a wheelchair or are bedridden. The employees must take proper measures to prevent the development of bed sores or other skin conditions to such patients, such as by adjusting their position in the wheelchair or in bed.
Patients Must Be Kept Thoroughly Informed
Another important duty of the employees working in these facilities is to make sure that all patients are thoroughly informed on each and every aspect related to their health. The residents must have a thorough understanding of their actual condition, improvements observed, the treatments they get, and the cost involved in the care.
Restraints Must Be Used Only In Emergencies
The nursing home employee laws also make it clear that the employees can us restrains only in the most emergency situations. There can be cases, where a specific patient needs to be physically restrained as part of the process of providing them adequate care. Any restraints that have been used must be removed immediately as soon as the situation improves. Besides that, the laws also require the employees to do a thorough reassessment regarding the need of restraints to specific patients frequently after a reasonable time span, which is typically twelve hours in most states, but can vary depending upon the state the facility is located in.
Prevention Of Abuse Or Neglect
The nursing home employee laws are also very strict when it comes to preventing abuse or neglect to the patients residing in these facilities. The residents have the legal right not to be harassed or abused in any manner, be it emotional, physical, or in any other form. Unless there is a need to use some restraint or physical force as par of the process of specific treatment, employees are strictly prohibited to be involved in any such activity. Many employees use physical force in moments of anger or frustration. If that happens, civil or criminal charges can be placed against them depending upon the kind of abuse or neglect committed and the severity of the harm thus caused. Many employees also try to exploit the patients for financial purposes, which is again illegal. Employees who are not involved themselves but notice any kind of neglect or abuse in the facility against the patients must report immediately to social service.
Patient’s Privacy Must Be Respected
As per the nursing home employee laws, it is also the duty of the employees to protect and respect the privacy for the patients. As part of their job, the employees may sometimes get access to confidential and private information about the patients, the laws require them to keep such information confidential unless there is a genuine reason to share it, such as when a higher medical authority asks for that information or when required for legal purposes. It is also legally mandatory for the employees to maintain proper records, such as the complications or injuries caused to the patients during their stay in the facility. Besides that, proper records must also be maintained regarding the different types of medications and treatment procedures that the patients received.
Last, but not the least, the nursing home employee laws also make it mandatory for the employees to ensure highest level of care to the patients. For example, the must provide two or more snacks and three full meals to the residents. Besides, medications as and when needed must also be provided in a timely manner. Most importantly, the employees working in nursing home facilities must not discriminate against the residents on the basis of wealth, sex, age, or race.