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In a resident-to-resident altercation, the nursing home is responsible. While certain resident behaviors may trigger conflicts with other residents, the nursing home bears the responsibility for preventing conflicts whenever possible through supervision, monitoring, and evaluation.
Certain factors contribute to conflicts between nursing home residents. In some cases, a resident may become annoyed by another’s behavior, which can lead to physical or verbal conflict. This may happen when one resident repeatedly cries or yells, disrupting another resident’s peace. It could also happen when a resident makes negative comments, takes other residents’ items or enters their rooms, closets, or other private spaces, or undresses in inappropriate places. Often, these actions are due to a compromised mental or emotional state, and may not be intended aggressively; but they can still annoy other nursing home residents and lead to altercations.
To prevent resident-to-resident altercations, nursing homes are responsible for monitoring residents who exhibit these behaviors, as well as residents who have been aggressive in the past, and those who have interacted negatively with other residents or engaged in physical or verbal outbursts. Nursing homes should also carefully monitor residents who have mental conditions that could cause them to irritate or engage in conflict with other residents.
Based on these factors, nursing homes should use reasonable care to prevent resident-to-resident altercations by providing adequate supervision, creating safe, unrestricted areas within the nursing home, and minimizing conditions that may cause boredom or pain and thus trigger aggressive or disruptive behavior. Additionally, nursing home staff should receive training on how to approach combative or anxious residents, and how best to prevent resident-to-resident altercations.
Conflicts between nursing home residents can result in physical injuries and mental or emotional suffering. To ensure residents’ physical and emotional well-being, nursing homes should provide adequate supervision and monitoring, using reasonable care to prevent resident-to-resident altercations whenever possible. If a nursing home fails to adequately protect its residents, then that facility may be legally required to cover the cost of medical bills, out of pocket expenses, and pain and suffering related to any resident-to-resident altercations.
If your loved one was injured by another nursing home resident, and you are wondering if you have a claim, please feel free to call and speak to one of our experienced Georgia nursing home neglect lawyers today. Our consultations are always free. If you would like more information about this topic, be sure to click on our other videos, or better yet, click the subscribe button to subscribe to our YouTube channel. Thank you.
