Nursing Home Abuse

Baltimore, Maryland

Millions of families have made the difficult decision of placing a loved one into a nursing home. Elderly relatives who begin to show ailments and signs of aging may present too much difficulty for the family to manage alone.

In these circumstances, most seek the best possible care they can afford and place the duty of caring for a loved one into someone else's hands. But sadly, the best care is not always given.

Types of Nursing Home Abuse

The elderly living in nursing homes are susceptible to an array of harmful conditions. Reports of abuse or neglect include:

Physical abuse

• Assault / Battery
• Prolonged deprivation of food and/or water
• Improperly dispensing medication
• Unreasonable physical restraint
• Sexual abuse

Neglect

• Disregard for the quality of daily living
• Lack of attention to existing medical concerns
• Dehydration, malnutrition, and bedsores
• Unsanitary and unclean conditions
• Infections left untreated
• Wandering into dangerous circumstances

This kind of nursing home abuse and neglect is intolerable and cruel. No one should suffer mistreatment at the hands of the individuals who have been trusted to take care of them. Of course, there are nursing homes that provide exceptional care. However, many of them pay more attention to their bottom line than to their residents.

Take Action and Know Your Rights

Because the elderly are so vulnerable in nursing homes, you should always investigate a facility as thoroughly as possible before allowing a loved one to be placed in their care.

You should also make yourself familiar with the rights stated in the Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987. This law requires that a nursing home support and preserve the rights of each resident in order to participate in Medicare or Medicaid. Some of these rights are:

• To be fully educated about their options
• To take part in their own care
• To be able to make independent choices
• To have confidentiality and privacy
• To be treated with respect and dignity
• To be free from mental and physical abuse
• To be able to file complaints without fear of retaliation
• To be able to have visits from physicians, relatives and/or legal representatives

If a loved one is experiencing abuse in a nursing home, do not hesitate to act on their behalf. Intervene by allowing The Yost Legal Group to help the ones you love. Please contact The Yost Legal Group for a nursing home abuse consultation. We will work with you to ensure that the elder members of our communities are safe, healthy and treated with the dignity they deserve.