Albuquerque Nursing Home Sepsis Attorneys

What Is Sepsis?

Sepsis occurs when a body overreacts when fighting an infection. In its effort to defeat the infection, it may instead cause significant damage to previously healthy tissues and organs, sending the individual into “septic shock.” If it is not immediately addressed, sepsis can result in death. 

Unfortunately, the typical resident of a nursing home is more vulnerable to developing sepsis in the wake of an infection. Anyone over the age of 65 with weakened immune systems or chronic medical conditions tends to be more susceptible. 

Recognizing Sepsis Symptoms in Elderly Care Facilities

Because nursing home residents are more likely to develop sepsis, facility employees must take extra care to watch out for symptoms. If nursing home staff are neglecting a resident, it will fall to their visiting family to realize something is wrong.

Do not wait to get emergency medical treatment for your loved one if you notice any of the following symptoms of sepsis:

• Significant pain or discomfort
• Abnormally fast or very weak heart rate
• Rapid breathing or shortness of breath
• Confusion or disorientation
• Fever and chills
• Sweaty or clammy skin

Linking Sepsis to Neglect in Nursing Homes

Sepsis is typically a preventable condition in nursing home residents if they are well-cared for and consistently monitored. In some scenarios, sepsis may not be avoidable, especially if a resident is high-risk, but there are still steps a nursing home can take to mitigate the situation and ensure the affected resident’s safety. Though sepsis is not contagious, the infections that trigger it often are. A nursing home must make every reasonable effort to prevent the spread of infections, but an illness still might break through. When a nursing home operates the way that it should, its staff should see the signs of an initial infection and facilitate immediate medical treatment. Should sepsis nonetheless develop, the nursing home should hospitalize the resident so that they can get around-the-clock, emergency care.

The reality is that nursing home employees are often overworked and stretched thin to the point where they cannot give each resident the attention they deserve. This can lead to employees failing to provide a sanitary living environment, increasing the likelihood of infections spreading. They can then miss the obvious symptoms of sepsis until it becomes too late to help. 

Reach out to our Albuquerque nursing home sepsis attorneys as soon as you learn your resident has developed an infection. By involving us early, we can work to ensure your loved one receives the proactive care they need to avoid adverse health consequences in the first place. We can then help you look for and document signs of neglect, which may include dirty clothing and bedsheets, poor hygiene, and a general unavailability of nursing home staff.

What Damages Can I Recover in a New Mexico Nursing Home Neglect Claim?

If there is evidence your loved one was neglected by nursing home staff, you have the right to hold the responsible parties accountable and seek compensation. A nursing home becomes liable for resident injuries, including preventable illnesses like sepsis, when they violate the duty of care that they owe their residents. They violate this duty when they negligently understaff their facilities, overwork their employees, or deliberately ignore reports of advancing illness. Individual staff members or medical professionals may also be liable if they reasonably should have detected the signs of infection or illness but failed to take appropriate action. 

Our Albuquerque nursing home sepsis lawyers will fight to get your family maximum compensation for all damages, including:

• Past, current, and future medical expenses
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of consortium
• Loss of enjoyment of life

If you discover your loved one in the care of a nursing home has become seriously ill, do not wait to discuss your situation with the Harvey, Foote & Baker Law Firm. Call (505) 295-2245 or contact us online today for immediate assistance.