Nursing Home Abuse and Negligence Injuries

The Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Lawyers Network

NURSING HOME INJURIES

The number of nursing homes cited for abuse has tripled since 1996

Nationwide, approximately 1.6 million people reside in 17,000 nursing homes. A recent study found that 1/3 of nursing homes in the United States (5,283 facilities) were cited for almost 9,000 instances of abuse over a recent two-year period, from January 1999 to January 2001. According to the same report, the percentage of nursing homes cited for violations has increased every year since 1996.

Your question or comment for our lawyer.

Although these statistics are disturbing, each time a nursing home is cited for abuse, it means that many more residents have become free from harm. In this section, we will attempt to educate families on the types and warning signs of abuse and neglect so we can expose these unethical facilities.

Hire An Attorney

Even though some nursing homes provide good care, far too many are subjecting helpless residents to needless suffering. Many nursing home residents are dependent on the staff for most or all of their needs such as food, water, medicine, toileting, grooming, stimulation and activity. Because of insufficient and poorly trained staff, caregivers are often overworked and grossly underpaid. Many corporate nursing home owners are more concerned about their bottom line and often overlook staff inadequacies and lower standards of care. The nursing home industry has become a multi-billion dollar business comprised of major corporations, and efficiency and profitability have become more important than administering proper care.

Your Legal Rights

Nursing home abuse and neglect can be very difficult to uncover. Abuse and neglect robs the elderly of their dignity and fills them with embarrassment and fear. Many nursing home residents are completely dependent on staff members for care, and many times either they cannot speak up about mistreatment, or they are too embarrassed and frightened to tell family members. That is why family involvement is so important in ending the problem of nursing home abuse and neglect. We urge you to get involved with your family member’s plan of care and make sure that you know exactly what is going on. Pay attention to his or her appearance and the appearance of the surroundings. Investigate odd or unusual odors. Is your loved one eating a well-rounded diet and drinking enough water? Notice the staff to resident ratio. Is your loved one getting adequate attention? Another thing you can do is to read the annual state survey reports. Each facility is required to carry the current evaluation on the premises. Overall, we tell family members to trust their instincts. If something doesn’t feel right, then check it out. Call an attorney or call 911.

So how do you avoid subjecting your loved one to abuse or neglect? How do you know which nursing home will provide high quality care? This section of the website attempts to educate members of our community about the reality of nursing home abuse, keep you aware and informed, and show you how to minimize these risks in your own family. Click on the links below for more information:

Types of Abuse
Warning Signs of Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect
Signs of Good Nursing Home Care
How to Evaluate a Nursing Home
What You Can Do

Often, the negligence and abuse that goes on in these facilities is hidden or hard to pinpoint. That’s why if you suspect any wrongdoing, we urge you to follow your instincts and have it checked out. If you talk to a Nursing Home Network attorney, we can make sure your loved one is being treated right and, if abuse is occurring, prosecute the institutions to make sure this horrible behavior is put to an end. Take a much-needed step toward protecting your loved one. Stay informed on what goes on in your loved one’s facility. Learn about how and when negligence and abuse occurs so you can make sure it never happens to your family.

If you believe that your family member is in a life-threatening situation, insist that the nurses call an ambulance. If they refuse, dial 911 and get an ambulance yourself.

Find a Nursing Home Negligence Lawyer

The Nursing Home Lawyers Network

Contact Us

Disclaimer: The Nursing Home Lawyers Network services all 50 states including Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, DC, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.This does not mean, however, that all nursing home cases will be accepted and we reserve the right to decline any representation. This site only provides information about nursing home abuse, and nursing home negligence, it is not meant to be taken as legal advice. Click here for more.