Your loved one may not be able to care for themselves anymore. But at the same time, they may not require the level of care that a hospital provides. In this case, it may be in their best interest to move to a nursing home care facility. Here, you must ensure that their resident rights are well protected, otherwise, they may be abused or neglected. Follow along to find out when you should file a nursing home abuse claim on your loved one’s behalf and how one of the proficient Howard County medical malpractice attorneys at Lloyd J. Eisenberg & Associates can guide you through this.
What rights does my loved one hold as a nursing home resident?
When you make the difficult decision to place your loved one in a nursing home, you may rest easier knowing that they hold the right to receive adequate living standards. Though, nurses and other staff members may take advantage of your loved one’s vulnerability and neglect to provide them with this standard of care. Or sometimes, they may go as far as abusing your loved one.
With that being said, below are examples of when your loved one’s rights as a nursing home resident may be violated:
- A nurse or other staff member fails to inform your loved one of their medical conditions.
- A nurse or other staff member fails to maintain your loved one’s privacy, respect, and dignity when providing medical care.
- A nurse or other staff member places your loved one in restraints without it being medically ordered.
- A nurse or other staff member begins to manage your loved one’s finances.
- A nurse or other staff member proceeds with a treatment that your loved one refused.
- A nurse or other staff member retaliates against your loved one when they voice their concerns.
- A nurse or other staff member denies your loved one of visitors.
When should I file a nursing home abuse claim?
Importantly, your loved one should have received a document regarding the facility’s policies, along with their personal rights upon becoming a resident. You must comb through this document and confirm that a violation has occurred. Nonetheless, you may be able to confirm this with any blatant sign of abuse you detect, whether it be through your loved one’s broken bones, mood swings, pressure sores, sudden weight loss, or otherwise. This is when you may proceed with filing a nursing home abuse claim.
You must file your claim before the state of Maryland’s statute of limitations, which is generally three years from the date of your loved one’s incident. In the end, a talented Howard County personal injury attorney is ready and willing to stand by your side throughout your legal action. Contact Lloyd J. Eisenberg & Associates today.
