When you place a family member in a nursing home, you do so with the expectation that he or she will receive adequate care, respect, and dignity. It is always a tough decision but often the right thing to do when there is nobody to provide the level of care needed at home. In most cases, your loved one will be safe and have access to all the amenities and activities that you would expect. However, if things start to go wrong it is important to take steps to ensure that your loved one is not being neglected or abused.
Although nursing homes provide excellent care for the most part, incidents involving accidents, negligence, or abuse may occur. These events may cause emotional or physical harm to the resident and must be recorded and remedied by nursing home management. It is up to you, as the relative of the resident, to make sure that accurate and detailed records of such events have been recorded.
Nursing Home Records
When you placed your relative in the nursing home, you or someone else will have been named as the legal representative. That individual has the right to inspect and even copy records relating to the management of the resident, incident, and medical records. Unfortunately, representatives are often delayed in obtaining records due to confusion over the law.
If you suspect there is an issue with how your relative is being treated at a nursing home, it is important to act fast. Contact a lawyer who has experience in nursing home abuse cases to provide support if you are having issues obtaining copies of records that are important to your case.
Nursing Home Abuse
Nursing home residents are protected by federal laws which are enforced at the state level. You can report your suspicions to the Department of Community Health, Healthcare Facility Regulation, 1-800-878-6442 or http://dch.georgia.gov. This should be your first step so that an official investigation is carried out to ensure that residents of the nursing home are receiving the care that they deserve and are not being abused by members of the nursing home staff or visitors to the facility.
It is understandable to feel responsible when a loved one has suffered nursing home injuries but always remember that you acted in good faith in placing them in the facility. The best you can do now is seek remedy and help ensure that future residents do not suffer similar or worse nursing home injuries.
Fry | Goehring
Fry | Goehring has extensive experience with nursing home injuries and pursuing compensation. If you would like us to provide representation we invite you to first avail of a free consultation so that we can evaluate your case.
Call the offices of the Fry | Goehring today if you would like a free consultation in Georgia. Our team of legal professionals is dedicated to helping you fight for justice on behalf of a relative who has suffered nursing home injuries.
