Nursing Home Abuse and Your Rights

When a loved one is placed in a nursing home, you expect a level of safety, dignity, and care while they’re getting the round-the-clock attention they need. Unfortunately, you may have found that the nursing home has violated their rights, inflicting abuse on the people you care about.

That can be tough news to take, and it can also be tough to take the next steps after such a devastating experience. Below are some of the rights your loved one can expect and some first steps you can take when those rights are violated. And when you’re ready to talk to a Rockford personal injury lawyer, we’re here to help.

Rights to Safety

When you put a loved one in the nursing home, you expect that they can stay there without worrying about their safety. When living alone, they may have been at risk for falls and other injuries. If they suffer any of these injuries alone, they may be unable to seek help. So being in someone’s care should help keep them safe, right?

But they may face similar injuries and abuse within the nursing home. Unfortunately, many nursing home residents find themselves facing physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, among other forms of abuse. If their right to the safety and care they were offered is not met, they may have grounds for a lawsuit.

Freedom from Neglect

A lack of intentional abuse isn’t the only thing nursing home residents shouldn’t have to worry about. They should also be free from neglect, or a lack of the care they need to maintain their health.

For example, nursing home residents who can’t move on their own may be unable to lift or move themselves in their bed or wheelchair. If they’re neglected, they may develop pressure sores. These are painful, and they can be difficult to heal from. The health impacts can be devastating if caregivers fail to meet your loved one’s needs when they’re in the nursing home.

Informed Consent

When you’re receiving treatment for a medical condition, you should know exactly what kind of treatment you’re receiving. But that’s not only about what treatment you’re receiving. It’s also about the impacts and effects of the treatment. 

For example, let’s say your loved one needs a specific treatment while staying in the nursing home. The nursing home resident and immediate family should know what treatment they need and how that treatment can impact them.

If you suspect your loved one has received treatment they don’t need, or if the caregivers didn’t notify you of the dangers or side effects of certain treatments, you may need to talk to a lawyer. You may have grounds for a lawsuit, either for abuse or malpractice—or both.

Learn What to Do when Your Rights Are Violated

If you’ve discovered evidence of nursing home abuse, your loved one’s rights and safety have been compromised. But how do you prove elder abuse and get the compensation your loved one is due?

The nursing home abuse lawyers at Mahoney & Mahoney, LLC are here to help. We offer free consultations so you can get answers now, before you file a lawsuit. If you’re not sure where to begin, reach out by calling us at 815-656-4600 or by filling out the online contact form below.