Making assisted care and living decisions for loved ones is never easy. There are more options today than ever before. You have the option of a traditional nursing home and home healthcare facilities, and both have certain features and benefits. In selecting a nursing home be aware that while many strongly state their ultimate focus on care for their residents, there is a profit-centered reality and greed can overcome care in unfortunate situations.
Sometimes nursing home directors and management put profit ahead of patient care. To save money some homes fail to maintain and update their equipment, such as bed lifts and machinery used to care for patients. Likewise, staffing cuts can leave an inadequate staff, likely unable to give a desired level of care for your loved one who may be waiting a long time for help to the rest room, for example.
Warning Signs of Nursing Home Injuries
When your loved one is already in a nursing home you can look for several signs that should give rise to concern:
- Bed sores;
- Broken bones and injuries;
- Cuts and bruising;
- Sudden weight loss.
While it is appropriate to ask the attending nurse and staff about any concerns, they may be busy, and you might not feel like they are giving you 100 percent care and attention. Remember the job the nurses perform and their daily routine before you lose patience with them. That said, keep a record of everything that happens.
Making a Record of Everything with Concerns
Claims for damages and lawsuits for elder abuse and neglect are difficult cases to prove and win. If you plan to talk to a lawyer about nursing home injuries and suspected abuse and neglect, you should have a very detailed record of all the facts involved and a record of what happened during visits with your loved one. Nursing homes have insurance providers who should settle most claims short of going to trial. No assisted living or nursing home facility wants the negative press of a lawsuit filed in court. That said, not all cases settle, and some do go to trial and circumstantial evidence may be all you have to prove your claim.
About us: Michael V. Favia & Associates, P.C. is a health law and litigation firm in Chicago representing individuals, healthcare professionals and organizations with civil legal matters as well as professional licensing and regulation.
Chicago health law and litigation attorney Michael V. Favia and his associates in several locations and disciplines, advise and represent private individuals as well as healthcare professionals in all types of litigation and administrative matters involving licensing and regulatory agencies.
Michael V. Favia and Associates, P.C. represents individual physicians and health care organizations in the Chicago area with a variety of legal matters. With offices conveniently located in the Chicago Loop, Northwest side and suburban meeting locations, you can schedule a discrete meeting with an attorney at your convenience and discretion. Michael V. Favia & Associates is available at (773) 631-4580. Please visit www.favialawfirm.com and feel free to “Like” the firm on Facebook and “Follow” the firm on Twitter. You can also review endorsements and recommendations for Michael V. Favia on his Avvo.com profile and on LinkedIn.
