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May 25th, 2020
Deciding to move a parent or other family member into a nursing home or assisted living facility is never an easy choice. But it’s often necessary when a person knows their loved one has medical needs that make it difficult or impossible for them to live independently.
However, many people also worry about their loved ones’ health and happiness after moving them into a nursing home, and that’s because many nursing home residents will experience abuse or neglect.
If you’ve been following our blog, you may have already read how to recognize signs of abuse, and that means you know that nursing home abuse isn’t always physical. In addition to intentional injuries and illnesses caused by neglect, nursing home abuse can also include emotional abuse and even financial abuse like theft, extortion, and fraud.
Worse, research suggests most elder abuse goes unreported. According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), incidents that put nursing home residents in harm or immediate danger rose by nearly 11% between 2013 and 2017.
If you suspect your loved one is being abused by nursing home staff or other residents, you need to act to keep them safe. But how?
Depending on the type and severity of harm you suspect your beloved family member has suffered, there are several different people and resources you can reach out to about your concerns. You may even decide to contact more than one to cover your bases.
Helpful resources when dealing with suspected nursing home abuse include:
When you file a complaint, it is important to do so in writing so there is a record of it. If you file a complaint by phone, make sure to submit a written complaint afterward that summarizes what was discussed on the call.
It’s important to include as much detail as you can in your complaint, including:
It may take up to 30 days for an investigation of your complaint. If more than 30 days go by without a response, make sure to follow up. You may also need to speak to an experienced nursing home abuse attorney to make sure your complaint is taken seriously.
The statute of limitations for nursing home abuse cases in Louisiana is just one year – one of the shortest in the nation. That’s why you may want to consult a lawyer even earlier, so that if your complaint is concluded with the nursing home saying no harm was done, your family member has an advocate ready to assert their rights to safety and demand compensation.
If you suspect that your loved one has been abused or neglected in a nursing home, contact the nursing home abuse attorneys at Dudley DeBosier today for a free consultation.