Nursing home abuse might seem like an issue that occurs only rarely. However, it is shockingly prevalent. In fact, a report from ABC News showed that nearly one out of every three nursing homes had at least one instance of abuse occur. Some of the most common problems that happen include inadequate sanitation, dehydration, and bedsores.
When you suspect that a loved one is suffering from abuse at a nursing home, it is vital to take action. You may not know how to bring up the conversation to the nursing home resident, and the person living at the care facility may be hesitant to discuss it. Therefore, it is important to carefully bring up the subject to remedy the situation quickly.
Start a conversation
When you are alone with the nursing home resident, bring up the subject cautiously. You can simply ask if he or she likes staying at the facility. You can also ask about a specific symptom, such a bruise or another condition you have noticed. At that point, you can get direct; the person may actively want to discuss it. However, if the nursing home resident seems reluctant to talk about it, then take a step back but don’t give up trying to learn the truth about what happened.
Listen
As your love ones discusses the situation, listen carefully. You do not want to interrupt constantly or insinuate the person is merely mistaken about what actually occurred. You may feel angry or sad, but you want to keep those emotions in check. You do not want your loved one to think that you angry or upset at them.
It’s up to you to take action
Your loved one may be confused or too intimated to take action on their own. You have to take the lead. Gather as much information as you can, and then seek the advice of an attorney experienced in nursing home abuse claims. Such consultations are almost always free-of-charge.
If your case has merit, the attorney will initiate a thorough investigation of the circumstances surrounding your loved one’s injuries and aggressively seek compensation and justice for your loved one’s pain, suffering, and other economic and noneconomic losses. Law firms handling nursing home abuse cases take them on contingency, meaning that there will be an attorney fee only when compensation is recovered from the nursing home and other liable parties.
