Rights in a Nursing Home
For most families, the decision to put their elderly loved one in a nursing home is a difficult one, even when it is the best decision because of their loved one’s medical condition. Once the decision is made, the next step is to find a nursing home that will provide their loved one with the care and dignity they deserve. Unfortunately, there are countless incidents of nursing home abuse in facilities all across the country and there are no guarantees that a patient will be safe in even the most reputable facilities. This is one of the many reasons why it’s imperative to speak with a Montgomery County nursing home lawyer from Brown Kiely LLP if you suspect that your loved one is being abused or neglected. This kind of treatment can happen to any nursing home patient and must be addressed as quickly as possible to better protect your loved one and others residing in the facility in question.
National statistics show that at least 10 percent of people who are 60 years of age or older have suffered some form of elder abuse. Even more tragic is how much that percentage jumps for elderly people who are suffering from dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, or other mental illnesses.
There are several forms that nursing home abuse can take, including physical, mental, sexual, neglect, isolation, and financial abuse. An investigation by the World Health Organization reveals that two out of every three nursing home staff have participated in some form of abuse of a resident. You may not always be able to know for sure if your suspicions are grounded in reality. That is OKAY. It is better to schedule a confidential consultation with a Montgomery County nursing home lawyer to discuss your concerns than it is to do nothing and risk that abuse or neglect may continue.
Spotting and Addressing Nursing Home Abuse
If you have a loved one who is a resident in a nursing home, it is crucial to be able to recognize potential signs of abuse or neglect. Here are just a few of the ways mistreatment can manifest:
- Anxiety
- Bedsores
- Bruises
- Changes in behavior or personality
- Depression
- Infections or other conditions
- Poor hygiene
- Sudden changes to their will or other financial documents
One of the most frequent reasons why nursing home staff are able to get away with the abuse is that their victims are often too afraid to tell anyone what is being done to them. Many perpetrators of abuse threaten victims, telling them there will be consequences if the victim tells. The perpetrator may even threaten to hurt the victim’s family if the victim reports they are being abused. Additionally, many patients simply lack the ability to advocate for themselves. It is partially for this reason that loved ones should consider speaking with a Montgomery County nursing home lawyer about possible mistreatment – they may be the only ones who can protect victims of abuse who can’t advocate for themselves.
Seeking Help
If your elderly loved one may have become a victim of nursing home abuse or neglect, contact a Montgomery County nursing home lawyer to better understand what legal recourse your family may have. Our firm aggressively advocates for victims and their families and have helped many nursing home abuse victims receive compensation for their injuries, as well as hold the perpetrators who committed the abuse responsible.
Rights in a Nursing Home
When it comes time to place a loved one in a nursing home, even if you take the time to consult with a nursing home lawyer Montgomery County trusts, there is often a lot of uncertainty and anxiety. There is a stigma associated with nursing homes that implies your loved one could lose his or her rights, and essentially be babysat by the nursing home staff. However, that should never be the case. Anyone in a nursing home has rights and protections under state and federal law. These protects and rights ensure they receive the services they need and the proper care.
The professionals at Brown Kiely LLP each have over 20 years’ experience in ensuring that those in nursing homes are entitled to their rights and proper care. If you feel your loved one is not receiving all of his or her rights or proper care, contact a Montgomery County nursing home lawyer from our firm for a consultation.
What rights do nursing home residents have?
At your consultation with a nursing home lawyer Montgomery County knows and trusts, you’ll learn that, as long as nursing home residents are not incapacitated in any way, they should have the same rights that they would have if they were living on their own. If a resident is incapacitated, he or she should have as many rights as he or she is able to have without causing any harm to him or herself. It is important to discuss every right and the process of proper care thoroughly with the nursing home prior to admission. If you have any doubts or questions about what type of rights your loved one should be having, you may want to speak to a qualified nursing home lawyer Montgomery County residents turn to for their experience.
The rights your loved one in a nursing home should receive, as long as there are no extenuating circumstances, include the right to:
- Get proper medical care;
- Exercise his or her rights as a US citizen;
- Manage his or her money, or choose someone to do this on his or her behalf;
- Spend time with visitors;
- Not be abused or neglected;
- Have his or her family or representative notified in case of accidents, treatments or health-status changes;
- Receive social services;
- Leave the nursing home;
- Be respected;
- Have family involved in care and decisions;
- Not be the subject of discrimination;
- Not be restrained;
- Participate in any activities;;
- Receive information about fees and services;
- Make a complaint;
- Have privacy;
- Be protected against involuntary discharge or transfer;
- Be informed about his or her medical conditions and medications;
- Refuse treatments and medications;
- Be in charge of his or her own schedule; and
- Be in an environment that maximizes his or her comfort.
If your loved one’s rights are being violated, you could consider working with a nursing home lawyer Montgomery County families can count on in order to file a lawsuit for nursing home abuse or neglect. For example, if your loved one had no need to be restained, but the nursing home staff kept him or her restrained, that could qualify as physical abuse and would need to be stopped immediately.
Find a Nursing Home Lawyer in Montgomery County
It is important to listen to your loved one if he or she feels one of his or her rights is being violated, or that he or she is not receiving proper care. The nursing home lawyers at Brown Kiely LLP want to help ensure your loved one is receiving the best care possible. If you or your loved one feel their rights are being violated, call us at 240-220-9923. A nursing home lawyer Montgomery County relies upon for assistance will work with you to rectify the situation and help prevent this from occurring to your loved one, or any other resident, again.
