Discovering that a loved one has been abused or neglected in their nursing home is devastating. The family members of abused residents often have many quick decisions to make, including what type of medical care their loved ones need and whether to seek legal help for potential compensation claims.
But even if the at-fault staff members are identified and punished, both victims and their family members may feel uneasy about the nursing homes themselves. Can they trust that future caregivers and staff members will display kindness and care, or will they too act in an abusive or neglectful manner?
Some families move their loved ones into different nursing homes after abuse or neglect, while others don’t. If your loved one was abused or neglected in their nursing home, it can be a difficult decision to move them. Getting into nursing homes isn’t always easy, and many have no vacant rooms for months or years. But moving your loved one can protect their health and even save their life.
Here’s what to know about this painful, traumatic, and all too common situation.
When Nursing Homes Are Mismanaged, Moving Is Often a Good Idea.
If you already noticed other red flags about your loved one’s nursing home or simply never felt comfortable there, it may be a good idea to move them after even a single instance of neglect or abuse. These cases are often related to nursing homes understaffing or undertraining their caregivers, which is a major risk factor for abuse.
Even if the perpetrator is fired, the nursing home itself may have a culture of abuse and neglect that could go back many years, if not decades. In cases like this, it’s worth the potential difficulties of finding a new nursing home for your loved one, as keeping them in their current nursing home may result in more abuse or neglect in the future.
When Nursing Homes Otherwise Have Good Reputations, Staying May Be Safe.
Nursing home abuse and neglect can occur anywhere. Even the most well-reviewed, expensive, and exclusive nursing homes can have incidents of abuse and neglect. Because mistreatment of elders and residents is so common, it doesn’t and shouldn’t always reflect poorly on the facilities themselves.
The official U.S. Medicare website includes a database that you can search to find reviews for your loved one’s nursing home in categories such as health inspections, staffing, and quality measures. You can also find penalties for things like federal fines and payment denials. Poor reviews and a history of fines and penalties may indicate a poorly run nursing home.
On the other hand, a well-run nursing home with good reviews is more likely to be proactive in preventing abuse and neglect from occurring. If your loved one is otherwise happy in their nursing home and receives good care from other staff members, they may be happier staying in place, provided the at-fault staff member is either fired or no longer allowed to care for them.
Our Lawyers Can Help You Make the Right Decision
At Parrish DeVaughn Injury Lawyers, we understand the heartbreak, frustration, and stress that comes along with nursing home abuse allegations and claims. It can be deeply troubling to imagine your vulnerable loved one being mistreated by the people you’re paying to take care of them.
But the prospect of moving them to another nursing home, especially when you don’t have the space or capabilities to care for them in the interim, can put even more stress on your shoulders.
Our Oklahoma nursing home abuse lawyers are here to help you during this difficult situation. In addition to building your loved one’s nursing home abuse claim, we can also advise you on the best steps towards protecting your loved one’s health and happiness. Contact us today for a free consultation. We want to ensure your loved one gets the best care possible.
