First Steps to Take After a Nursing Home Injury
Has someone you loved been injured at a nursing home? It’s time to take charge. Here’s how.
Each year, adults around the country move into nursing home facilities designed to help them live healthy, comfortable lives. When you choose to help a family member become comfortable at one of these facilities, you want to know they are being taken care of. These facilities are designed for elderly or disabled adults who may need assistance with daily tasks or who require regular medical attention.
The last thing you want to consider is that your loved one may experience a personal injury at a nursing home. Unfortunately, injuries do happen. If your family member has been hurt while in the care of a nursing home, it’s important to pay attention and seek help. Here’s how.
1. Identify the abuse
There are more than 1.3 American adults residing in nursing home facilities; however, many of these adults do experience injuries or problems while in the care of a nursing home facility. Understand that there are different types of abuse, which can make it tricky to identify when your loved one is experiencing pain or injury.
Some adults brush off symptoms of abuse as part of the aging process, which can further make it difficult to recognize when something has happened. Make sure you pay careful attention to your family member when you visit them. Do they have unexplained bruises? Did they recently fall and fracture a bone? Are they emotionally withdrawn or unusually quiet? These can be signs of both physical and emotional abuse.
2. Document everything
Keep careful notes when you suspect abuse. Note the dates and times of your visits with your loved one. Write down any communication you may have had with the nursing home facility. If you have voicemails or emails from the nursing home, you’ll want to save these too. If someone new has been providing care to your loved one, note their name and when they started caring for your family member.
Medical records are also incredibly important when it comes to documenting an injury. One of the most important things you can do is to help your attorney build a solid case and that all starts with documentation.
3. Act quickly
It’s important that your loved one not only get the care they need, but that they reside in a safe, comfortable location. Understand that when you’re dealing with nursing home injuries and abuse, it’s important to act quickly. Don’t wait to report suspected abuse. Many adults second-guess themselves or may struggle when it comes to admitting that someone they love has been mistreated. Unfortunately, when your loved one can’t speak up for themselves, it’s up to you. If your loved one has developed bedsores, unexplained injuries, or has seemed emotionally distance or afraid, it’s time to seek help.
No one deserves to be mistreated at a nursing home facility. If your loved one has been injured, it’s time to talk with an attorney who can help you.