Nobody likes to think about the day where they will have to put their loved one in a nursing home. However, it happens to more of us than we’d like to believe. This is why when you do decide, you want to ensure your loved one is in good hands. Usually, this is the case. However, if your loved one is a victim of nursing home abuse or neglect, here are some of the questions you may have:
What is nursing home negligence?
Nursing homes are responsible for addressing their patients’ needs at all times. This includes providing your loved one with clean food and water, as well as a sanitary and orderly living space. Additionally, nursing homes are required to take your loved one’s complaints seriously. If he or she is saying his or her back hurts, the staff must take these complaints seriously and provide your loved one with the necessary treatment or medical assistance to feel better. Nursing home staff is responsible for helping your loved one with their day-to-day hygiene, as well as do what they can to ensure he or she does not develop any unwarranted medical conditions.
What are some signs of abuse or neglect?
Some of the most common warning signs that your loved one is facing nursing home neglect or abuse are as follows:
- Infections
- Reports of physical or sexual abuse
- Injuries from nursing home falls
- Dehydration
- Unexplained accidents and injuries
- Frequent bruising
- A sudden change in the resident’s attitude
- Soiled bed linens or poor personal hygiene
- The disappearance of personal possessions or cash
- Bedsores or pressure ulcers
- Broken bones
- Improper medication dosing
- Verbal abuse or harassment
- Malnutrition
- Sudden weight loss
How do I report a bad nursing home?
There are several actions you may take to report a negligent or abusive nursing home. For example, you may call the National. You may also call the Nursing Home Complaint Hotline at 1-888-201-4563 or submit the Nursing Home Complaint Form. However, to ensure your complaint is addressed in a timely fashion, you should ensure your complaint is either typed or printed neatly, with copies attached of any names or phone numbers with whom you have already filed a complaint, and ensure you complete all documents and forms in their entirety. The New Jersey Office of the Adult Protective Services Agency, The New Jersey Office of the Ombudsman for the Institutionalized Elderly, The Department of Health, and local law enforcement.
How can I prove a nursing home neglected or abused my loved one?
To prove a nursing home neglected or abused your loved one, you and your attorney may recover security camera footage, witness statements, pictures of the hazardous or unsanitary conditions, medical documents of your loved one’s injuries, police reports of the incident, and more.
Contact our experienced New Jersey firm
Stathis & Leonardis, LLC is an experienced personal injury law firm in Middlesex County, New Jersey that is committed to helping clients who have been hurt due to another party’s negligence. If you have been involved in a motor vehicle accident or were injured on another person’s property, please do not hesitate to contact our firm today.
