One of the hardest decisions family members may have to make is the decision to put a loved one in a nursing home. To make matters even more challenging, there is the real risk of nursing home abuse and neglect.
Most nursing homes try to give their patients the best care possible. However, when nursing homes are close to capacity and there is a shortage of qualified help, nursing home staff are known to neglect the residents, even after they’ve suffered a serious injury like a hip fracture or become very ill.
If you suspect your loved one is being neglected or abused, you may not know where to go to find out information on recent inspections and how the nursing home fared. There are websites which provide such information.
Other times, it does not take reading an inspection report for family members to be aware of unsafe conditions in a nursing home. It is those times, especially when a serious injury has occurred, when you should speak to a personal injury lawyer. A competent attorney should be able to access patient records and nursing home inspections. Further, they can file any necessary paperwork that may be needed to insure a patient’s protection, especially if it is determined that a lawsuit will need to be filed.