
Nursing home abuse is when a long-term care facility fails to live up to their responsibilities and, as a result, does harm to patients. This harm can be done through a particular action (e.g., physical violence) or inaction (e.g., failing to provide reasonable and necessary medical care).
If you suspect that your loved one is the victim of nursing home abuse, get help right away. Then, you can talk to our Baltimore nursing home abuse lawyers about how to hold the nursing home accountable.
Examples of Nursing Home Abuse
There are all too many ways that a nursing home can mistreat and do harm to the patients that they agreed to protect and care for. The most common form of nursing home abuse is neglect. Neglect occurs when the home fails to provide the patient with necessary care, such as appropriate nutrition and medication, opportunities to socialize, and help moving around.
Other forms of abuse, as the Maryland Department of Health explains, include:
- Mental and verbal abuse, when the staff speaks to the patient inappropriately by insulting, mocking, or berating them or purposefully trying to confuse or upset them
- Physical abuse, when the patient is subjected to rough treatment or physical blows
- Sexual abuse, when the patient is subjected to unwanted and inappropriate sexual advances by either the staff or by someone else whom the staff should have prevented from abusing the patient
- Seclusion, when the patient is purposely kept away from other people
- Chemical restraint, when the home uses medications inappropriately to control the patients’ behavior
- Reprisals, when the home punishes the patient for making complaints or asking for something they consider unreasonable (even if it is the patient’s right to have their request granted)
- Violation of privacy, when the patient’s personal information is given to someone who has no need to have it and who the patient did not consent to sharing their information with
Financial Abuse Is Also Nursing Home Abuse
Though not specifically mentioned in the above document, financial abuse is another form of mistreatment that nursing homes may engage in. Examples of financial abuse include:
- Changing their fees without notification
- Double-charging for the same service
- Tricking or manipulating your loved one into handing over money or assets
Nursing Home Abuse Is Against the Law
It goes without saying that nursing home abuse is morally unacceptable, but it is also illegal. Nursing home patients have rights, including the right to live in a clean, healthy environment where the staff tend to their specific needs while protecting their privacy and independence.
Homes that fail to meet these basic standards can and should be held accountable.
For a free legal consultation, call,
(888) 585-2188
Warning Signs of Nursing Home Abuse
As you can imagine, the signs of nursing home abuse vary widely depending on the patient’s personality and health, as well as the duration and type(s) of abuse the person is subjected to. Some common signs to watch out for include:
- Changes in mood, including being quieter than normal or seeming depressed
- Changes in health, such as weight loss or unexplained injuries
- Changes in hygiene, such as appearing dirty or wearing soiled clothes
- Changes in spending habits, like if they suddenly give away a large amount of money
You can also look to the nursing home itself for clues about how they treat your loved one. If the home is disorganized, dirty, crowded, or staffed by people who are curt and reluctant to answer questions, these signs could indicate an abusive environment.
When it Comes to Nursing Home Abuse, Trust Your Instincts
You know your loved one best. If you are concerned about their environment or their behavior for any reason, take action immediately. There are several things you can do to ensure your loved one’s safety.
What You Can Do About Nursing Home Abuse
Your top priority should, of course, be to protect your loved one. You can do this by:
- Calling the Baltimore Police Department and asking them to go to the home to check on your loved one
- Filing a complaint with the Office of Health Care Quality (OHCQ)
- Consulting our Baltimore nursing home abuse attorneys to find out about how to hold the abusive nursing home accountable
- Making arrangements to bring your loved one home, either permanently or on a temporary basis while you find a new nursing home
The final step can be time-consuming and expensive, depending on your loved one’s needs. You can seek reimbursement for these costs by filing a claim or lawsuit against the nursing home.
Taking Legal Action Against Abusive Nursing Homes
Under Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101, you have three years from the date you knew or should have known of the injury to file a lawsuit against a negligent or abusive nursing home. Our nursing home abuse lawyers recommend that you begin your case as soon as possible so that we can:
- Educate you about what your rights are in this situation
- Collect evidence of the abuse while it is still easy to locate
- Determine if your legal action should target an individual or the entire nursing home
- Confront the liable party on your behalf and fight for fair compensation through negotiations or a trial
How Nursing Homes Respond to Legal Actions
In many situations, the home and/or the insurance company representing them will try to fight back against even the most justified legal action. This can be frustrating and scary, but know that help is available. Our nursing home abuse law firm can protect you if the liable party tries to:
- Deny that the abuse happened or that they are responsible for the abuse
- Minimize your loved one’s suffering by offering an inadequate settlement
- Refusing to engage with you or your representatives
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Our Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys Can Get Justice for You
For more than 35 years, Jenner Law has provided comfort, compassion, and aggressive representation to clients like you. If you want to know what nursing home abuse is and how to hold abusive home responsible for their actions, call us today for a free case evaluation. We always put our clients’ needs first.
Call or text (888) 585-2188 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form