You likely hold onto the hope that the nurses and staff members at your loved one’s nursing home will keep at the legally acceptable standard of care. But unfortunately, incidents of the exact opposite have occurred far too often in the state of Texas. Continue reading to learn how to report this abuse and negligence and how an experienced Kaufman County, Texas nursing home neglect lawyer at Harrell & Paulson, LLP can assist you in doing so.
What are examples of nursing home abuse and negligence?
It is important that you continue to serve as your loved one’s protector even when they are not in your immediate care. Meaning, you should not hesitate in believing them when they make any complaints about potentially abusive or negligent behavior directed toward them. Below are examples of when your loved one may have been abused and/or neglected in their nursing home:
A nurse or staff member fails to help your loved one down the stairs, and they are injured as a result.
A nurse or staff member fails to administer the proper dosage of medication to your loved one, and they are overmedicated as a result.
A nurse or staff member fails to deliver meals or water to your loved one, and they are malnourished or dehydrated as a result.
A nurse or staff member fails to rectify the dangerous living conditions of your loved one, and they are breathing unclean air or drinking unclean water as a result.
A nurse or staff member incessantly yells at your loved one, and they appear depressed or withdrawn as a result.
A nurse or staff member makes sexual advances toward your loved one, and they appear fearful or anxious as a result.
A nurse or staff member withdraws money from your loved one’s bank account, and they are left with no savings funds as a result.
How Can I Report Nursing Home Neglect?
If you are under the belief that your loved one has been made a victim of nursing home abuse and/or neglect, then you must instantly report it to the appropriate authorities. You should first call your local law enforcement if your loved one is in immediate danger, along with the owner of the nursing home. Soon after, you should contact the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services at 1-800-458-9858.
Throughout all this, you should be collecting evidence of the incident. Such evidence may include photos of your loved one’s injuries related to their incident, copies of medical documentation and bills related to their incident, and oral and written witness testimonies of the incident, among other things. This is in case you wish to file an elder abuse claim against the negligent nursing home nurse or staff member down the line.
In the end, a skilled Kaufman, Texas personal injury attorney is ready and willing to stand by your side throughout this reporting process. Contact Harrell & Paulson today.
