PORTLAND: The biggest threat to the future of skilled nursing homes is the legal liability being created via staff error.
Pressure on owners and operators is being applied by rulings in the coroners and civil courts, care regulations are being tightened, supervisory bodies are more zealous, government wants higher standards (management of dementia in an open environment, with no chemical coshing), the call for cameras will provide hard evidence in claims, residents relatives are less inclined to be placated with an apology and the lack of staff continuous education makes the owner/operator an ‘easy’ legal target…