Common complaints about nursing homes include poor food quality, sleep disruptions, social isolation, inadequate staffing, and elder abuse. While possibly harmless, these complaints could also signify abuse or neglect. Ensure you investigate any forms of mistreatment, especially if they result in physical or mental injuries.
In this article, a Phoenix assisted living neglect lawyer discusses four common nursing home complaints and what to do if you worry that your family member is a victim of nursing home abuse or neglect.
Complaints about the quality of meals in nursing homes are routine. Accommodating diverse diets is challenging. However, nursing homes can do more to improve the quality and variety of their cuisine, encouraging patients to eat more and obtain the nutrients they need to survive.
When taking vital signs or administering medication, residents frequently report sleep disturbances. In other instances, homeowners have reported staff employees speaking loudly outside their rooms at night, turning on lights, and making noise after business hours. Other residents can also be a source of the disturbances.
Nursing homes can be socially isolating, and many residents rely on staff to fulfill their social lives. However, some institutions have eliminated social programs for financial purposes, leaving residents with limited opportunities to engage with peers. Isolation and loneliness are prevalent issues in nursing homes, and managers must foster a more positive social environment for residents.
Low compensation, long hours, and challenging work can make it difficult for nursing facilities to hire and retain personnel. Staffing shortages can also result in delays between when the request was made and when it arrived. Some facilities fail to adequately train their staff, which might result in harmful situations for residents.
Elder abuse at nursing homes is all too common. Residents have alleged that they have experienced physical, verbal, social, emotional, sexual, and financial abuse. Staff members typically work long hours, and interacting with residents can be physically and emotionally taxing, resulting in aggression. A Phoenix elderly abuse attorney can help you with the details of your case.
It is frightening to accuse someone of abuse or neglect. However, some cases are more apparent than others. Err on the side of caution, and take all signs of mistreatment seriously.
Here are a important steps you should take get your family member to safety:
Step 1. Take pictures of the neglect or abuse hazard (if possible)
Step 2. Move your family member to a safe place
Step 3. Report the incident to Adult Protective Services (APS)
Step 4. Get legal advice from a Phoenix assisted living abuse lawyer
Step 5. File a claim against the facility or employees
Nursing homes promise to provide a safe place for the most vulnerable. However, they occasionally fail to deliver as promised. Do not allow nursing home abuse to continue for another day if your loved one has been victimized. Arizona law allows you to pursue compensation for their injuries, including medical bills and pain and suffering.
The legal team at Knapp & Roberts encourages you to contact us if you think your family member is a nursing home abuse or neglect victim. Get a Free Consultation by calling 480.991.7677 or messaging us online. We will not get paid until you win your case.
The personal injury attorneys in Phoenix, Arizona, at Knapp & Roberts have the compassion and trial lawyer skills to tell your story to a jury. We will get to know you and your family so that we can help the jury understand what has happened to you and your family and how it has changed your lives. Obtain the compensation necessary for the injuries and losses you have suffered.