Nursing Home Neglect in Murfreesboro
All too often, the loved ones who took care of us develop conditions that make it impossible to properly care for ourselves. It is one of the most difficult, emotionally-charged decisions anyone can make, but finding a well-equipped and supporting nursing home may be the best solution for ensuring your loved one is safe and cared for.
Unfortunately, all your efforts to find the very best facility do not guarantee that the residents get the care and attention they need. Your visits may reveal cause for concern—your loved one may have small injuries, show signs of new mental health problems, or even just not be clean and neat. These can be signs of nursing home neglect.
What is nursing home neglect?
Make no mistake—nursing home neglect is a form of abuse. It can take a variety of forms, including the following:
- Clothing that is inadequate or infrequently laundered
- Medical and mental health care that is inadequate or not provided
- The presence of health and safety hazards
- Inability to protect residents from abuse by other residents
- Inadequate food and drink
What laws protect against Murfreesboro nursing home neglect?
State law requires nursing homes to implement policies to protect residents, including employee training and supervision, and procedures for identifying, investigating, and reporting cases of neglect. Once reported to the state, the facility must conduct an investigation of every case, and take appropriate action to ensure the situation is corrected, even if it means closing of the facility.
What should I do if I see signs of neglect?
If the signs are minor, for instance, if your loved one is improperly dressed one time only, you should report the problem to the nursing home management. There might be a reasonable cause—maybe the home was short-staffed due to bad weather. But, your responsibility does not end there. You need to remain watchful of other signs that your loved one is being neglected. And, if you see additional signs, take proper action:
- Contact a Murfreesboro personal injury attorney: An attorney with experience in nursing home neglect and abuse can advise you of the next steps to take and provide legal support if the case needs to proceed to litigation.
- Report the case: Begin by reporting your suspicions of neglect to the administrator of the nursing home. He or she is required by law to conduct an investigation. If you find the response to be unsatisfactory, report your suspicions to Adult Protective Services, which are part of the Tennessee Department of Human Services.
Keep in mind that reporting neglect cannot affect how the nursing home treats your loved one. You must continue to be able to visit during normal visiting hours, and your loved one cannot be discharged in most cases. Discharges are permitted with 30 days notice, but only under specific situations, such as if the home cannot provide needed care, you can no longer pay for care, or the home is closing.
Contact Craft & Sheppard, PLC for the legal support you need
The attorneys at Craft & Sheppard, PLC have experience representing victims of nursing home neglect. Contact us for a free consultation to review your case.
