Griffin Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
Nursing home personnel are liable for malpractice if they fail to meet the accepted standards of care in their industry. Since nursing home abuse is increasingly recognized as a serious problem, the federal government and many state governments have passed laws setting standards for such facilities.
An older person in a nursing home or an assisted living facility is very vulnerable, and their family members trust they will get the care and respect they deserve. If you believe this trust has been violated by nursing home negligence or abuse, you may need a Griffin nursing home abuse lawyer who has worked on these issues before and knows how to win. Consult a knowledgeable and compassionate personal injury attorney that could fight for a positive outcome for you.
Looking Out for Signs of Abuse
When visiting loved ones at the nursing home, it is important to be observant and take note of anything that seems unusual. Check if your family is suffering from bedsores, or if they have bruises or broken bones accompanied by suspicious or no explanations. Take note as well if they seem more depressed or listless than in the past. All these symptoms could potentially be signs of abuse.
Bedsores are a particularly important sign that something is wrong. Many residents of nursing homes or assisted living facilities have limited mobility and must remain in bed for long periods of time. In these cases, the caregivers are obligated to make sure the residents move around enough during the day that they do not develop sores.
Additional Risks
Another problem that often occurs in nursing homes is theft of the residents’ personal property. A nursing home employee should not be handling a patient’s money without being requested to do so in writing. A complete record must be kept of all money deposited with the facility.
Sometimes nursing homes resort to putting residents in physical restraints, which is a violation of federal health and safety standards unless there is a specific medical necessity for the restraints. In some facilities, sanitation is extremely poor, leading to health risks.
Building a Nursing Home Abuse Case
If any employee of a nursing home believes a resident is being abused or exploited, it is their duty to report these concerns to the facility administration immediately. Unfortunately, nursing home residents themselves often find it difficult or impossible to communicate about the abuse or neglect they have suffered.
A family member who suspects substandard care in their loved one’s nursing home should discuss the situation with an experienced Griffin nursing home abuse lawyer, that may consult medical professionals when determining whether to proceed.
The next step typically involves obtaining and reviewing nursing home and medical records along with other important information. If these records combined with personal accounts suggest the resident was abused or neglected, the lawsuit can proceed.
Speaking with a Griffin Nursing Home Abuse Attorney
Nursing home abuse is always dangerous to residents, and potentially deadly if left unchecked. An experienced Griffin nursing home abuse lawyer could request medical records, conduct investigations of facilities and staff, and help you determine the best way to proceed with protecting your loved ones from negligence and neglect.
