Washington DC Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
With the American population becoming increasingly older, placing a loved on in a nursing home is becoming more common. This of course, is a difficult decision, but often the care of a loved one needs is so involved that is takes people who are trained and accustomed to performing this type of care.
Most nursing homes are places where the best possible care is given to your loved ones. Unfortunately, a minority of nursing homes are institutions that are overcrowded, understaffed, or staffed with poorly trained personnel. These conditions lead to nursing home abuse, either by physically abusing patients, verbal abuse, or abuse by neglect.
Signs of nursing home abuse can be varied. The obvious ones are unexplained bruises, cuts, broken bones (especially hips) and bedsores. The patient may suffer from malnutrition or dehydration. The victim of verbal abuse may become unresponsive or possibly lash out unexpectantly.
Since most of these nursing homes are dependent on Medicare and Medicaid, a poorly run nursing home may be investigated by the federal government. State governments are also becoming more involved in cases of nursing home abuse. One of the states leading the way in prosecution of nursing home abuse cases is Maryland. The state has gone as far as to have the Maryland State Healthcare Commission put ou annual ratings of instate nursing homes that can be viewed on its website.
If you suspect that your loved one has been a victim of abuse, there are several remedies. First, you can make a complaint to the proper authorities. Of course, the investigation of the complaint will warn the nursing home, and as you can not always be there, you may want to move your patient before making the complaint.
After the complaint has been investigated by the state or the federal government and has indeed been found to be true, the state may prosecute the owners of the nursing home. Many states, as does Maryland, have laws strictly pertaining to nursing home abuse, and courts have proven to be consumer friendly.
If you feel that your loved one has been a victim of nursing home abuse, you might want to contact our law firm for a free case evaluation.
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