A California state audit released this year revealed that there has been a significant increase in incidents of Nursing home abuse that could cause severe injury or death at nursing homes all over the state. It is believed to be a result of poor caretaking practices at these nursing homes.

The Role of California Department of Public Health

The audit pointed to the California Department of Public Health as a contributing force to the increase in major incidents in California nursing homes for multiple reasons. The California Department of Public Health was criticized for not performing necessary inspections of the state nursing homes and also for a failure to issue timely citations for instances of substandard care and practices. In addition, the audit found that the department made inconsistent nursing home licensing decisions that also lacked transparency.

Nursing Home Problems Across the Country

There are safety and accountability issues throughout many of the nursing homes across the United States. Federal inspection reports often note that infection control tends to be ignored. The current administration under President Trump has reduced the use of penalties to punish nursing homes which put their residents at risk.

California Substandard Nursing Home Care

There was an increase of 31 percent in confirmed instances of substandard care at nursing homes in California from 2006 to 2015. Further, incidents of nursing home noncompliance that could have, or did cause severe injuries or death increased by 35 percent from 2006 to 2015. The auditor noted that the quality of nursing home care must start improving, as there will be a greater demand for nursing home services as the baby boomer generation ages.

If you believe a loved one has suffered injuries due to inadequate care at a nursing home in Orange County, contact the nursing home attorneys at The Peck Law Group. The experienced attorneys at The Peck Law Group have successfully handled many nursing home cases and you can speak with them today.