All nursing homes are required to have an elder abuse and neglect policy. These policies are designed to keep their residents safe, provide a method for patients and visitors to report abuses and demonstrate expectations of staff. However, just because a nursing home has an abuse and neglect policy doesn’t necessarily mean they abide by it, which is why an elder abuse lawyer may be necessary.
If your loved one has been abused or neglected in their nursing home, call an elder abuse attorney right away. Otherwise, make sure to request a copy of the abuse and neglect policy before you send your loved one to a nursing home. Keeping the policy on hand can prove to be useful later.
What Is an Abuse and Neglect Policy?
Under Ohio and federal law, nursing home residents are afforded dozens of specific protections. A nursing home’s abuse and neglect policy should address these rights. They should also be training their staff in the best practices to avoid violating patient rights. If you are able to obtain a copy of the nursing home’s policy, compare it to the above link. How are employees trained to avoid abusing their patients?
What Abuse and Neglect Policies Should Cover
A good abuse and neglect policy should cover not only patient rights and staff training, but the rules and procedures by which staff and patients must abide. For example, they might cover admissions and discharge policies, how to use the health services on-site and what kind of food and nutrition a home will provide. In other words, it should be a complete guide to living on the premises. It should also provide guidelines for what to do if an issue arises.
What You Can Do if You Notice Abuse and Neglect Policy Violations
If you witness an abusive incident or believe your loved one is the victim of abuse and neglect, don’t hesitate to take action. First, write down everything you can remember about the incident (or what the resident says) in as much detail as possible. If there’s an immediate emergency, call 911 and have the patient moved to a safer home or hospital.
Once the initial danger has passed, you can and should call a nursing home abuse attorney in Ohio. They can assist you in exploring your legal options. Victims deserve to be compensated for their increased medical costs, pain and suffering.
If your loved one has been abused at a nursing home, call the elder abuse lawyers at Dworken & Bernstein for a consultation today.
