Southern California Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Blog
Nobody should ever have to fear that an elderly parent or relative is being subjected to physical or emotional abuse in a nursing home, or that a loved one is experiencing pain and suffering because of neglect in a skilled nursing facility. Given that nursing homes want to make money and want to keep patients at their facilities, it can often be difficult to get a straight answer from a facility when you have concerns about abuse or neglect. If you are concerned about abuse in your parent’s nursing home, what should you do?
Understand the Signs of Nursing Home Abuse in its Varied Forms
First, be sure you know some of the common signs of nursing home abuse and neglect, recognizing the nursing home negligence can take many different forms. The National Council on Aging (NCOA) cites some of the following as common indicators of abuse or neglect:
- Unexplained physical injuries, such as broken bones, bruises, cuts, or burns;
- Bed sores;
- Medical needs that are not being met;
- Poor hygiene;
- Unexplained weight loss;
- Unexplained depression or agitation; and/or
- Elderly person saying that they do not want to be around a specific staff member or healthcare provider at the facility.
Know How to Report Nursing Home Abuse
There are multiple ways to file a nursing home abuse complaint or to launch an investigation into nursing home abuse in Los Angeles County. You should consider one or more of the following:
- File a complaint with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH);
- Speak with the Los Angeles County Long-Term Care Ombudsman;
- Inform the Bureau of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse;
- Contact an elected official; and
- Call the local police department to report concerns about abuse.
While you might feel unsure about whether to report abuse when you feel as though you do not have concrete evidence against a facility, it is important to remember that evidence of abuse often will not be found unless an investigation occurs. Further, it is better to report your concerns than to stay quiet, especially if there is in fact abuse or neglect occurring and your loved one (and others in the facility) continue to suffer harm.
Learn More About Filing a Nursing Home Abuse Lawsuit
Regardless of whether you report your concerns about nursing home abuse to a law enforcement official, to a Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, to the California Department of Aging, to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), or to another agency, you should learn more about filing a nursing home abuse lawsuit by contact a nursing home negligence lawyer in Los Angeles County. Your lawyer can assess your case and can provide you with more information about the steps you would need to take in order to file a lawsuit. It is essential to get in touch with a lawyer quickly since the statute of limitations will give you only two years from the date of the nursing home abuse or neglect incident to file a claim.
Contact a Los Angeles County Nursing Home Abuse Attorney Today
If you have any concerns about an elderly loved one’s safety in a nursing home in Los Angeles County or elsewhere in Southern California, you should seek advice from a nursing home negligence lawyer as soon as possible. Our firm can evaluate your case for you today and provide you with more information about your options for holding the facility accountable. Contact the Walton Law Firm today for more information.
See Related Blog Posts:
Passive Neglect Injuries in Riverside County Nursing Homes
Nursing Home Sexual Abuse: What You Should Know About Recent Cases
