It’s heartbreaking to discover that a loved one was abused or neglected in a nursing home. Families trust and believe these homes will care for their loved ones. However, if trust has been broken and abuse happens, you must act quickly and promptly. Early detection of warning signs will prevent abuse and start holding people accountable. If you have reason to believe or are sure that your loved one was abused in a nursing home, here are five things you can do to rescue your loved one and get justice.
Ensure Your Loved One Is Safe
Your first instinct should always be to protect those you care about. This can often be accomplished by taking quick action like pulling your loved one to safety if they are in danger. You might need to relocate them to a safer environment, send them home for a break, or ensure they receive medical attention for any injuries.
Note anything you see while you develop your strategy, such as obvious wounds, indicators of malnutrition, hygienic issues, or signs of emotional abuse. You will have a better case for reporting the abuse to authorities and pursuing legal action if you document these problems in detail.
Report the Abuse
Report promptly to the responsible regulatory agencies after your relative has been safely rescued from the life-threatening situation. Your state Adult Protective Services (APS) and local Ombudsman program for long-term care residents must be notified.
Report also to the nursing home administration and demand a written incident report. It can be taken to the police in cases of severe abuse, who will criminalize them. Thus, it ensures the authorities have enough time to work and prevent further problems with other residents.
Secure Medical and Legal Services
If your loved one is injured, get them to a doctor immediately. The medic can evaluate them and document any evidence of abuse or neglect. Medical professionals can ascertain the seriousness and long-term impact of severe neglect in extreme cases like a stage 4 bedsore in a nursing home. Work closely with a specialized personal injury attorney who will develop the right legal strategy.
Competent legal teams will be excellent in filing the claims for all the damages, from the medical bills to pain and suffering. This helps hold accountable the negligent homes, which potentially curb future abuse to other residents.
Know your Legal Rights and Options
Specific laws in each state address elder abuse and the rights of nursing home residents. You can only make the right choices if you know them. The Nursing Home Reform Act establishes federal standards of care so that residents receive appropriate medical care and are not neglected or abused.
If your facility is out of compliance with state or federal law, you can act by complaining to regulatory agencies or through court action. Knowing your rights gives you the power to be a good advocate for your loved one’s protection and reimbursement.
Collect Evidence and Document Everything
Accurate documentation is the key to making a strong case against the nursing home. Take photographs of any injury, living conditions, and neglect. Keep copies of medical records, accident reports, and employee contact information. Testimony from other residents, attendants, and family members can also be helpful.
Maintain a diary with the date, time, and chronological order of events. Pieces of information are not valuable now but will be helpful to lawyers and investigators in the future. They will quickly deal with any developments related to the lawsuit, especially from the facility.
Endnote
It is a sad reality to find abuse in a nursing home, but by making the right efforts, you can rescue your loved one and get justice. You can aid in their recovery and stop future abuse by taking them to safety, reporting the abuse, obtaining documentation, and obtaining legal and medical assistance. No one should be subjected to mistreatment in their older years, and justice can be served with firm action.