Nobody wants to leave their loved one in a nursing home. However, when the time comes, many of us do not have a choice, and we can only hope that our loved one is sufficiently cared for in their time of need. That being said, if you suspect your loved one is being abused or neglected by their nursing home, you should read on and reach out to our experienced Pennsylvania personal injury attorneys today to learn more about how we can help.
What are some of the most common examples of nursing home negligence?
The unfortunate reality is that there are several different ways in which a nursing home can be negligent, however, among the most common can include failing to take care of all residents’ basic hygiene, ignoring complaints of sickness or pain, failing to ensure residents have guard rails on their beds if needed, and failing to adequately observe patients, leading to falls or other injuries. These are all horrific situations, which is why you must keep your eye out for potential signs of abuse or neglect, at all times.
What are the signs of nursing home abuse?
There are several warning signs that your loved one may be abused or neglected in a nursing home. Please look out for the following:
- Soiled bed or inadequate personal hygiene
- The disappearance of residents’ possessions or cash
- Bedsores
- Malnutrition
- A sudden and dramatic change in the resident’s attitude
- Sudden weight loss
- Dehydration
- Unexplained accidents and injuries
- Reports of abuse, or signs of fear when certain nurses or doctors come around
How do I sue and report a negligent or abusive nursing home in Pennsylvania?
First and foremost, if you suspect your loved one is in immediate danger, you should contact the police as soon as you can. However, you may also wish to report the incident(s) of abuse to the Department of Health, the Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, and/or the Department of Health’s Division of Nursing Home Care Facilities. What’s more, you should always hire an experienced attorney who knows how to help you and your loved one prove your nursing home negligence claim. Our firm can subpoena surveillance footage, take pictures of the unsafe conditions (which we advise you to do as well), receive medical documents evaluating your loved one’s injury, use witness testimony, and more to prove your claim. We are here to help–however, time is of the essence. The sooner you speak with us, the better.
Contact our experienced Pennsylvania firm
There is nothing worse than sustaining injuries at the hands of a negligent party. Now, you must recover physically, and you must also find a way to pay for your recovery. This is why if you or someone you know has sustained injuries due to another party’s negligence, you must contact the Law Offices of Ilkhanoff & Silverstein today. An attorney who is willing to fight for your right to a smooth recovery can make all the difference.
