Steps To Take When Nursing Home Abuse Occurs
As people age, they sometimes need long-term and round-the-clock care that their families cannot provide. Nursing home administrators, and the staff members they employ, are entrusted with the health of seniors. They are expected to provide competent care and treat elders with dignity and respect. Unfortunately, nursing home abuse and neglect happen all too often, and residents suffer serious harm as a result.
If you have a loved one in a nursing home and suspect abuse is occurring, you may feel helpless and unsure of what to do. Below, our Tampa nursing home abuse attorney outlines the most important steps to take.
Remove the Resident, if Necessary
If you feel as though your loved one is in immediate danger, you should remove them from the facility as soon as possible. You may need to phone the police for assistance to ensure that your family member can leave safely. Telling the police that you suspect nursing home abuse will also provide further documentation, as they will include it in their report.
Keep Detailed Records
As soon as you begin to suspect nursing home abuse and neglect, you should start to keep very detailed notes of it. Nursing home abuse is very difficult to prove and over time, your memories may fade and you may not remember every suspicious incident. Keep a journal outlining any injuries your loved one suffered, the warning signs, conversations you have had with staff members, and anything else of importance. All of this can help when you file a future claim.
Report the Abuse
Even if you have told the police about the suspected abuse while removing your loved one, you should still report the abuse to certain agencies. If your loved one suffered injuries or requires medical treatment, report the suspected abuse to the police, if you have not already. You can also report the abuse to the National Center on Elder Abuse. Also be sure to inform your loved one’s social worker, primary doctor, or patient advocate, as long as they are not the suspected abuser.
Seek Medical Attention for Your Loved One
Senior citizens are very frail and even a minor incident can result in some of the most severe injuries. It is critical that you take your loved one to a doctor or the emergency room, if necessary, and have them examined by a doctor. Even if you do not think your family member was hurt, you should still make sure they receive medical treatment. A doctor will know what hidden injuries to look for, and make sure the injuries do not become worse.
Call a Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer in Tampa
If your loved one suffered harm in a long-term care facility, they may be able to obtain financial compensation that can help pay for their medical expenses and more. At Kohn Law, our Tampa nursing home abuse lawyer can advise you of your loved one’s rights and ensure they are upheld so they obtain the full and fair settlement that is justly theirs. Call us now at 813-428-8504 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation and to learn more about your options.
Sources:
ncea.acl.gov
leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0400-0499/0400/0400.html
