Reporting Nursing Home Abuse

    NEW YORK, NY, June 15, 2012 /24-7PressRelease/ -- When you place your loved one in a nursing home, you must trust that the facility will provide the quality care your loved one deserves. Unfortunately, many nursing homes violate this trust every year by providing negligent care or abusing residents. Nursing home abuse occurs at an alarming rate across the country. According to the National Center on Elder Abuse, millions of cases of nursing home abuse have been reported, and it is likely that many others have occurred, but go unreported for a variety of reasons.

In order to ensure your loved one is receiving the proper care, you should be on the lookout for signs of nursing home abuse whenever you visit the facility.

Types of Nursing Home Abuse

Nursing home abuse can come in many forms, including:

- Physical abuse
- Emotional abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Nursing home neglect

Physical abuse is often the most easily recognizable type of nursing home abuse since the victims often have visible indicators such as bruises or other injuries. Physical abuse occurs any time a staff member or other resident intentionally uses physical contact to inflict pain or injury on a resident.

Emotional abuse may not result in the same visible injuries to your loved one, but it can be just as damaging. It occurs when a staff member uses verbal communication or nonverbal methods to inflict emotional or psychological pain on a resident.

Sexual abuse is the most abhorrent type of nursing home abuse. It occurs when a resident is forced to participate in any type of non-consensual sexual action.

While neglect may not always be intentional, it certainly constitutes nursing home abuse. A staff member has committed nursing home neglect if he or she fails to provide a resident with the level of care required to maintain their overall health and well-being.

Recording Nursing Home Abuse

If you suspect your loved one has been the victim of nursing home abuse or neglect, you should start compiling a record of this abuse. Your documentation should include:

- Pictures of bruises, cuts, or other odd marks on your loved one's body
- A record of any signs of poor hygiene, including dressings that have not been changed in a timely manner, dirty undergarments, soiled bedding, or a lack of bathing
- A record of any physical trauma suffered by your loved one
- A record of any unusual behaviors that may indicate abuse

Always record the date and time of your visit along with this documentation. If others were in the room at the time, record their names as well. If you discussed your concerns with a staff member, record the details of this interaction.

How to Report Nursing Home Abuse

Present your evidence to nursing home management. If management fails to address the problem, you can speak with your local ombudsman. Your ombudsman can provide you with valuable information on how to get your loved one the help he or she needs.

You should also report your suspicions to the state agency responsible for licensing and certifying nursing homes and request that an official investigation be launched by the state.

While these steps are important, the best way to ensure your loved one's rights are protected is to contact an experienced nursing home abuse attorney as soon as you notice any signs of abuse. An experienced nursing home abuse attorney will know the laws that are in place to protect your loved one, and he can make sure all negligent parties are held accountable for their actions.

For more information on what to do if you suspect your loved one has been a victim of nursing home abuse, please visit the website of Marc Albert, serving clients in the New York City metropolitan area.

Website: http://msainjurylaw.com/

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