What Can I Do If My Loved One Was Injured in A Nursing Home?
What Can I Do If My Loved One Was Injured in A Nursing Home?
When you move your loved one into a nursing home, you trust they will take good care of him or her. Nursing homes and assisted living facilities must provide proper care for residents. They should ensure that the environment is safe and that the staff assists residents daily. Unfortunately, mistreatment in nursing homes can occur. When it does, your loved one could be harmed physically and emotionally, and some nursing home residents die due to inadequate care.
What is the Duty of a Nursing Home?
Nursing homes must provide a safe place to live and provide professional care to residents. Nursing home employees should have proper education and training to handle the specific duties of their jobs. Nursing facilities’ management must guide and train employees and provide them with the necessary tools and equipment to perform their tasks. Also, the administration must ensure the facility is safe for residents and visitors.
When a nursing facility fails to provide proper care to a resident, the result can be severe. Elderly patients are often more susceptible to illness, and when they suffer a problem, such as an infection, it can be much more challenging to resolve. Older individuals and those recovering from surgery or other medical procedures can have compromised immune systems, which can make them more likely to have complications when they face additional medical issues. If a nursing home’s negligent actions, or lack of action, caused a resident to suffer a medical problem or setback, the facility may be held responsible for the resulting damages.
Signs of Nursing Home Neglect
Nursing home neglect or abuse occurs when a nursing home fails to provide proper care to a resident. There are signs that you can watch for that may indicate that neglect has happened. Your loved one may become less communicative. You may notice unexplained bruises or injuries. Your loved one might have bedsores, indicating they were not adequately cared for while confined to bed. A resident could lose weight in a short while. Sometimes, the resident may become agitated or angry.
Nursing home residents are often reluctant to report problems or mistreatment because they fear it could worsen things. Other times, someone is in a fragile medical condition that prevents him or her from adequately communicating concerns. If you notice any possible problems with your loved one, report it to management immediately. Try to move the person to a different location.
If a loved one was hurt, contact an injury attorney in Houston as soon as possible. You may not be sure that a particular problem is due to mistreatment. Your lawyer will research the issue and gather the information proving negligence by the nursing home. If your loved one suffered an injury or abuse in an assisted living center, do not delay.
