Safeguarding Loved Ones from Sepsis in Florida Nursing Homes
Individuals and their families choose a nursing home environment expecting top quality resident care and security, but sometimes negligent acts can result in residents developing sepsis and septic shock. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines sepsis as the human body’s extreme response to the presence of an infection. Unfortunately, residents at assisted living facilities have an increased chance of contracting sepsis because they possess key risk factors. Individuals aged 65 or older, those with weakened immune systems, and people with chronic medical conditions are more likely to experience the infections that lead to sepsis.
The CDC cautions that sepsis is a potentially life-threatening condition and medical emergency, which puts loved ones in a unique position: You may need to act on behalf of a resident, both by making sure your loved on receives essential treatment and by pursuing remedies for nursing home negligence. A Miami sepsis and septic shock attorney can help with legal options, and some tips on what to do may be helpful.
Take Action Against Sepsis
Initially, it is important to recognize the signs that someone has sepsis. Common symptoms can include fever, chills, elevated heart rate, low blood pressure, and labored breathing. As sepsis progresses to septic shock, the indications may be confusion, disorientation, clammy skin, and extreme pain. If your loved one suffers from memory loss, age-related cognitive disorders, or other medical condition that makes communication challenging, you should be on the lookout for these symptoms, as they can be more difficult to detect.
If you believe your loved one may be suffering from sepsis while in the care of a nursing home or assisted living facility, you should consider taking the following actions:
- Rush the resident to proper medical care, which may be an emergency room, urgent care center, or other off-site facility.
- If medical resources are available at the nursing home, immediately notify staff about your sepsis concerns and demand treatment.
- After securing your loved one’s health, report your concerns to the nursing home. These facilities are required to notify the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration about the situation.
- Get in touch with an experienced attorney as soon as possible.
How Nursing Home Residents Develop Sepsis
In the assisted living facility environment, there are at least two causes for how a resident may suffer serious harm resulting in sepsis:
- The nursing home was negligent in preventing the underlying infection. Staff may be careless in allowing unsanitary conditions, not disinfecting properly in between interactions with different residents, and mishandling equipment. Once an initial infection develops, sepsis may not be far behind.
- The nursing home failed to recognize the signs of sepsis, so the condition progressed into a life-threatening situation of septic shock.
Talk to a Florida Sepsis and Medical Malpractice Lawyer About Legal Details
If you have concerns about the condition of a loved one in an assisted living facility, please contact Freidin Brown, P.A. right away. We can schedule a no-cost consultation at our offices in Miami or Fort Myers, FL. After reviewing your situation, our attorneys can advise you on handling emergency tasks and your legal options for pursuing a negligent nursing home for sepsis injuries.
Source:
cdc.gov/sepsis/what-is-sepsis.html
