Could Norovirus Outbreak Mean Increase in Milwaukee Nursing Home Deaths?
Study: Norovirus in nursing homes leaves residents susceptible
On behalf of Milwaukee personal injury attorney Ric Domnitz of Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C. posted in Nursing Home Abuse on Tuesday, October 23, 2012.
It can be a painful and trying experience to care for an aging parent. As an individual watches the person that was their first hero become unable to care for themselves on their own, a difficult decision is often reached. Unfortunately, it is not always an option for an adult child to quit their job and devote all of their time to caring for an aging parent, so the child will often opt for a nursing home. Across the country, including in Wisconsin, it is estimated that there are around 3.3 million residents in nursing homes. A study was recently conducted of Medicare-certified nursing homes across Wisconsin and two other states looking at death and hospitalization rates.
The study specifically looked at outbreaks of norovirus in nursing homes and the corresponding death and hospitalization rates. The concluding results found a significant correlation between the risk of residents being hospitalized and dying from all illnesses — rather than just norovirus — increased during times of norovirus outbreak in nursing homes in Wisconsin and the other states. Additionally, researchers found an even stronger correlation with this in nursing homes that had a smaller ratio of daily registered nurses to residents. This correlation appeared to hold up even after the study account for periods in which mortality rates are elevated due to the time of year.
Milwaukee nursing home deaths are relatively rare, but it is important that when a family decides to puts an elderly member in a nursing home, the family trusts that their loved one will be care for. In too many cases, nursing homes neglect their patients due to understaffing or not enough resources. However, this excuse isn’t really good enough for a family that loses a loved one because they weren’t looked after. All residents of our society deserve proper care, including our most elderly residents of Wisconsin.
Source: Infection Control Today, “Norovirus Outbreaks in Nursing Homes Associated With Increase in Hospitalizations, Risk of Death,” Oct. 22, 2012
If an individual suspects that their family member could be a victim of neglect in a nursing home and would like to learn more about options available to them, they may wish to visit our Milwaukee nursing home abuse page. If you need legal representation to bring suit against someone for nursing home abuse, contact a Milwaukee personal injury attorney with Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C. for a free consultation.