It is hard to imagine your loved one getting abused or neglected at a nursing home. After all, you are paying the staff members to take care of your family members. Unfortunately, lawyers see this kind of abuse all the time. Here are steps you should take if you suspect nursing home abuse:
Learn About the Signs of Abuse
Nursing home abuse is much easier to detect if you know what you are looking for. A common sign of abuse is sudden weight loss. If you notice that your family member has lost a lot of weight since being in the nursing home, the nursing home staff may not be feeding him or her enough. Other common signs of nursing home abuse include bedsores, bruises, poor grooming, depression and infections.
Speak to Your Family Member
It is important to talk to your family member privately about your suspicions. Calmly explain to your loved one why you believe he or she is being abused and encourage him or her to speak to you about it. However, understand that your family member may be reluctant about speaking about the abuse out of shame or fear.
Gather Evidence
If you truly believe your loved one is being mistreated at the nursing home, you should gather evidence to support your claim. For example, if you see physical injuries like bruises or cuts on your family member, take photos of them. You may also want to speak to other nursing home residents and staff members about the abuse you suspect. The more evidence you have to support your case, the better.
Inform Management About the Suspected Abuse
Tell the managers at the nursing home that you believe your loved one is being abused by staff members. It is important to remain calm and carefully explain the type of abuse you believe your family member experienced and the evidence you have to prove it. However, if you think that your family member is in immediate danger, call 911 right away.
Report the Abuse
If management at the nursing home fails to do anything about the abuse, you should contact some form of protective services for adults in your state. Tell them about the abuse you suspect and provide them with any documentation you have.
Hire a Lawyer
If your family member is being mistreated in the nursing home, it is in your best interest to hire an experienced nursing home lawyer as soon as possible. He or she can help you gather all the evidence you need to support your claim and protect your loved one’s rights. With the help of a lawyer, your family member may be able to get the compensation he or she deserves.
Do not wait to hire legal help. Your loved one deserves justice. If you want to set up a consultation, we encourage you to give an attorney a call today such as the nursing home lawyer Memphis TN locals turn to.
Thanks to authors at Darrel Castle & Associates PLLC for their insight into Personal Injury Law.