How Do Facilities Cover Up Nursing Home Neglect?
Placing your loved one into a nursing home is an extremely personal decision. It is also one that is extremely difficult. While you expect the facility to protect your loved one and respond appropriately to their needs, that is not always the case, sadly. When nursing home neglect occurs, you can take legal action against them to claim compensation for your loved one. However, you cannot expect the facility to admit to the neglect, as they want to shield themselves from liability. Below, our Tampa nursing home neglect attorney outlines ways facilities cover up neglect and abuse.
Failing to Report Neglect and Abuse
Nursing homes have a legal obligation to report suspected cases of nursing home neglect or abuse. Unfortunately, this does not mean all nursing home staff members or administrators comply with the law. Staff members often fear retaliatory measures, such as losing their jobs, if they report neglect or abuse. Administrators, on the other hand, often do not want to risk damaging the reputation of their facility by reporting abuse or neglect.
Sadly, in these cases, staff members and administrators alike prioritize their own interests and profits over the safety and well-being of nursing home residents. Some facilities even have unwritten policies discouraging reports of neglect or abuse.
Being Dishonest About a Resident’s Injury
Administrators and staff members may intentionally lie about a nursing home resident’s injury to cover up abuse and neglect. For example, a staff member may argue that a certain type of medication is causing a resident to become tired and withdrawn when really, it is emotional abuse that is causing the behavioral changes. Staff members may be dishonest about their own misconduct, or the misconduct of others to protect their own job or to protect their colleagues.
In other situations, nursing home staff members may also attempt to conceal the injury. They might do this by using long-sleeved clothing, makeup, or washing a resident’s body after sexual assault.
Forging Nursing Home Records
Nursing home administrators may try to conceal neglect or abuse by telling staff members to forge certain documents and records. Staff members may be ordered to backdate documents or to create new records. In other instances, staff members within a nursing home may not intentionally be trying to hide anything but they may simply input the same information for the same resident without actually monitoring them because they are too busy or too lazy to ensure medical treatments, medications, and other elements related to care are properly documented.
Our Nursing Home Neglect Attorney in Tampa Fights Back Against Facilities
If you suspect that your loved one has been injured in a nursing home you may be able to take legal action. Sadly, nursing homes go to great lengths to protect themselves in these lawsuits. At Kohn Law, our Tampa nursing home neglect attorney knows how to fight back against facilities and ensure they cannot cover up their wrongdoing so your family obtains the full and fair compensation you deserve. Call us today at 813-428-8504 or chat with us online to schedule a consultation and to learn more about how we can help.
Source:
leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0400-0499/0400/0400.html
