If you notice the signs of nursing home abuse, such as unexplained injuries, unresponsiveness, sudden change in weight, obvious signs of poor hygiene, or out-of-the-ordinary behaviors, these signs of nursing home abuse should not be ignored.
By law, the nursing home management is required to address any concerns you may have about the care of your elderly parent or relative, and in fact must have a written policy regarding this issue. You and the resident should ask for this at the time your loved one makes the final decision about a nursing home, take the time and become familiar with it.
Steps to Take if You Expect Neglect
Most importantly, if you suspect that you or a loved one in a nursing home is in immediate danger, contact 911 or your local police department.
You can also report your concerns to the nursing home administration to get your complaints on file. Medicare or Medicaid-certified nursing homes must follow a grievance procedure for addressing complaints. For example, you can file a grievance complaint if you’re concerned about how staff at the facility are behaving towards residents.
You may also want to contact your local Adult Protective Services agency to report any issues or concerns you have. APS workers will investigate suspected neglect, abuse and exploitation against older adults or those with disabilities. If APS determines that abuse may be happening, they will meet with the victim in person to assess what needs to be done to protect their wellbeing.
After reporting the situation to authorities, or if you have questions about what steps to take, call the nursing home abuse attorneys at Sticklen Dreyer Tinney Law Firm at our Joplin location at (417) 626-9880 or our Columbia location at (573) 303-3848.
Our compassionate, experienced lawyers are dedicated to protecting the rights of nursing home abuse victims in Missouri.