You may feel rest assured believing that your loved one is being taken care of in their nursing home. This is why it may come as a complete shock, and absolutely devastating, to learn that your loved one is being abused by a nurse or facility staff member. Follow along to find out what you should do if you suspect that nursing home abuse is occurring and how a proficient St. Mary’s County medical malpractice lawyer at Dorsey Law Firm can come to your aid.
What are signs that nursing home abuse is occurring?
Nursing home abuse may come in the form of physical, emotional, sexual, or financial abuse, or even through neglect. Common signs that you should look out for, on your loved one’s behalf, are as follows:
- Your loved one has visible gashes and bruises on their body, and they cannot explain why.
- Your loved one appears depressed or anxious, and they cannot explain why.
- Your loved one has ripped and dirty undergarments, and they cannot explain why.
- Your loved one appears fearful when a certain nursing home staff member enters the room.
- Your loved one has money or valuable personal items missing from their room.
- Your loved one appears to be overmedicated.
- Your loved one was found roaming outside the nursing home unattended.
What should I do if I suspect my loved one is being abused?
If you pick up on any of the aforementioned signs, and you suspect that your loved one is being abused in their nursing home, then you must place them in immediate care. This may be by temporarily transferring them to your home or taking them to the hospital if they are physically injured, among other options.
Once their safety is secured, you must think about filing an elder abuse claim against the negligent nursing home nurse, staff member, or owner. For this, you should take the following approach:
- Report the incident to your local law enforcement.
- Report the incident to Maryland’s Adult Protective Services at 410-421-2694.
- Ask witnesses of the incident to provide written or oral testimony about what occurred.
- Ask the nursing home owner to share surveillance camera footage of your loved one’s incident occurring.
- Take photos and videos of your loved one’s injuries and damages.
- Take your loved one to doctor’s appointments as directed.
- Collect all medical documentation and medical bills related to your loved one’s incident.
We understand just how overwhelming it may be to gather enough evidence for your case, all while having to take care of your loved one. All in all, this process may be made easier with sound legal advisement from a talented Leonardtown personal injury lawyer. Contact our firm as soon as you possibly can.
