One of the hardest things that people go through is dropping their parent off at a nursing home, or being the parent getting dropped off at the nursing home. Moving into a nursing home is never an easy situation, as it is usually the result of needing care that simply can’t be provided in a normal household environment. While it may be hard to drop your loved one off at a nursing home, it is even harder to hear that they have been unfairly treated during their time there. Nursing home neglect is a real problem that is experienced by senior citizens across the country daily. If your loved one has experienced nursing home neglect we urge you to contact our attorneys in Memphis, TN at the Porter Law Firm right away. In today’s blog post we will be discussing nursing home neglect, what constitutes nursing home neglect, and what to do if your loved one has experienced it.
What Is Nursing Home Neglect
Nursing home neglect is sadly quite common, with people around the country stepping forward and making claims of neglect and abuse. Nursing home neglect can also vary greatly, with each individual instance of neglect being different, but there are four basic types of nursing home neglect that are recognized by the law.
- Medical Neglect – Medical neglect is when a nursing facility, or an individual employee, fails to adequately address or prevent medical concerns for the resident. This can range from failing to provide the resident with medication to not addressing developing bed sores to failing to provide adequate care to a resident with cognitive disabilities.
- Neglect Of Basic Needs – Much like failure to provide medical care, neglect of basic needs refers to the caretaker not providing essential things or services to the resident. If a caretaker does not provide essentials like food and water to the resident, it is a form of neglect, as essential needs are not being met.
- Neglect Of Personal Hygiene – For nursing home residents, particularly those who require assistance in getting around their home, it can be a necessary act for a staff member to help them bathe. If a resident does not receive adequate help with their hygiene, it is considered to be an act of neglect.
- Social Or emotional Neglect – The last form of neglect is social and emotional neglect, referring to when a resident is ignored, or mistreated by a nursing home staff member.
If your loved one or someone you know is being mistreated and neglected by a nursing home, or a staff member at a nursing home, we urge you to contact us at the Porter Law Firm. Upon scheduling a consultation with one of our attorneys in Memphis, TN you will be provided with legal advice, as well as legal representation.
How Can You Tell If Your Loved One Is Being Neglected
If your loved one is currently living in a nursing home and is being neglected, you might not be able to easily tell — unless they tell you, that is. In order to ensure that your loved one is being properly taken care of, it is important to pay close attention to their physical and mental health. If your loved one seems to be losing weight unhealthily it can be a sign that they are having their basic needs for food and water being neglected. If they begin to develop bed sores, it might be a sign that they are not being taken care of and are spending most their time stranded in their beds. If their behavior has changed it can be a sign that they have been emotionally abused. Essentially, anyway that they begin to change physically or emotionally can be a sign of nursing home neglect, as nursing homes are not meant to change people at all, but are rather to take care of someone and to help them live comfortably.
Legal Options For Victims And Their Loved Ones
If you suspect that your loved one is being neglected by their nursing home or some of the nursing home staff, it is important that you address the nursing home right away. It is possible that the administration knows nothing of the injustices being inflicted on their residents. If that is the case, they might conduct an internal investigation to find the staff member, or members, that are responsible. If nothing comes of approaching the administrators, it is time to contact your local attorneys in Memphis at the Porter Law Firm. An experienced attorney like Matthew can be a valuable asset in receiving fair compensation for your loved one’s treatment. An attorney can represent your loved one by following up with the nursing facility, as well as help you determine the next steps in pursuing some sort of corrective action. Lastly, your Memphis attorney can discuss with you and your loved ones whether a negligence lawsuit is appropriate. If you suspect that your loved one is being neglected by a nursing home, contact Matthew Porter of the Porter Law Firm today.