As the population of the United States continues to age, more and more families are faced with the decision to put a loved one in a nursing home. While this decision can be a difficult one, it is always done under the assumption a family’s loved one will receive around-the-clock care in a professional and caring healthcare setting. Unfortunately, this does not always happen. While many nursing homes and those who work in them truly care about their residents, there are numerous cases involving severe abuse of nursing home patients. If you suspect your loved one may be the victim of nursing home abuse in Phoenix, here are some steps you should immediately pursue.
Make Your Concerns Known
If you visit your loved one frequently and begin to notice bruises or other injuries that are not easily explained, personality changes, or other things that just don’t feel right to you, make your concerns known to doctors and nurses at the home, as well as the facility’s administrator. By doing so, you can force an investigation and start a paper trail of in-house reports, which may be crucial should you need to file a lawsuit at a later date.
Visit at Different Times
If nursing home abuse is taking place, it is likely being done by staff members who work certain hours on a regular basis. Therefore, make sure you stagger your visits so that you are at the nursing home at different times of the day and night. By doing so, you can get a better idea of who works when, and also notice if your loved one seems fearful of certain staff members.
Gather Evidence
If you suspect your loved one is being abused in a nursing home, gather as much evidence as possible. For example, use your smartphone to take pictures of any injuries your loved one has, as well as room conditions, medications, and anything else that seems relevant. Also, you can make a video of your loved one if they are telling you of alleged abuse, which could be crucial if the allegations prove to be true.
Contact an Attorney
Finally, always contact an experienced nursing home abuse attorney as soon as you suspect something is wrong. By doing so, the attorney can listen to your concerns and give you an objective opinion as to your options and what would be the best course of action.
