A legal case can result if you think you have experienced a nursing home neglect issue, or have had a family member do so. If you think you are within your bounds to call out a nursing home on any wrong doing, you should indeed do so to prevent them from harming others in the process of their practices.
States such as Arkansas are quickly putting legislation in to help prevent nursing home related deaths. One law says that deaths that occur in a nursing home must be investigated by the coroner- and a funeral will be delayed until this happens. In doing so, Arkansas has effectively shut down several nursing homes found to be in violation of nursing home neglect. Laws.
When nurses get lazy, bad things can happen. Not properly moving a disabled person in his or her bed each day can lead to bed sores for instance. Bed sores will result from not having prime circulation, and resting on the same areas of the body each day without change. Nurses are required to keep such patients moving in order to prevent such things, and may be violating the law if they don’t.
Something more dangerous is not feeding and giving water to patients enough. Some nursing homes aren’t bringing in enough money to pay for expenses, and decide to start cutting back on food services. If this is done, a patient can start exhibiting effects of malnutrition. Luckily, such a case can usually be caught early and treated before something serious results- although a legal case will be able to be presented by the patient.
Even something such as assault or physical abuse can happen to a loved one when in a nursing home. Nursing home officials should be able to monitor their employees at all times, ensuring they are not doing anything to harm patients. Even still, there are reported cases in which orderlies have been caught physically hurting patients, taunting them, or otherwise causing harm. Even one instance of this happening is grounds for action.
Some cases would make it questionable as to whether or not a patient is liable for damages, or if the nursing home is. One case would be if the patient were to escape and become injured. This would actually make the nursing home at fault in most cases, since they assumed responsibility in caring for the patient, and should have proper defenses against someone simply walking out of the facility.
Final Thoughts
Nursing homes that aren’t up to par should be closed down immediately- so that no one else will have to experience what you or a family member has. Neglect can be a very powerful thing that can lead to serious complications- and even death. In such a case, you should report any suspicions immediately.
