Nursing Home Neglect Frequently Asked Questions
- I'm concerned about the care my mother is receiving in her nursing home. What can I do?
- Who do I make a report to? You will need to submit your report to the state health department.
- Is there a special format for reports or complaints? No, but you should include all of the following information in written form:
- Can an attorney help me resolve the situation?
- What constitutes abuse or neglect?
- How can I find a good nursing home?
- Are there any reports or information I can request from the home before I make my decision?
- The nursing home director suggested I shouldn’t visit my mother too soon after she moves into the facility or it might affect my mother’s adjustment to her new home. Does this seem right?
- My mother has Alzheimer’s – but the nursing home she lived in currently doesn't have any special care options or facilities for patients with her condition. Do I need a special home for her?
- My father-in-law recently passed away; and I feel that his nursing home may not have taken adequate care of him, which could have led to his death. What should I do?
- My mother fell in a nursing home a few months ago. She was 75-years-old at the time and suffered a badly broken hip. Unfortunately, she later passed away from surgery complications. It seems to me that the broken hip may have lead to her death. Are falls common and can they lead to more serious problems?
- A few days ago I noticed that my grand-father has a bedsore on his leg. He looks extremely uncomfortable. A nursing home aid told me that bedsores are a common problem, can be treated, and that I shouldn’t be worried. Should I be concerned?
- My father has bad bruising on his chest and arms. My wife and I suspect that he may be the victim of abuse, but don’t know this for sure and would hate to make false accusations. We’re scared for his safety. What should we do?
- I'm concerned about the care my mother is receiving in her nursing home. What can I do?
First, take your concerns directly to the nursing home. Clearly communicate that you are not pleased with the care your relative is receiving, that you are documenting what you have seen and that you will report it. Second, you must follow-through with your threat by making a report – without that, the facility may not take your warnings seriously.
- Who do I make a report to? You will need to submit your report to the state health department.
You will need to submit your report to the state health department.
- Is there a special format for reports or complaints? No, but you should include all of the following information in written form:
Name, address, and telephone
Your relationship to the resident in the nursing home
The resident’s full name and reason that he/she is in the home
Times and dates that you observed the problems
Names of staff who may be involved, including those that you have spoken to about your concerns
Any medical records relating to the abuse or an autopsy if death occurred
- Can an attorney help me resolve the situation?
If you aren’t satisfied with the response or action from the nursing home, in addition to sending your report to the state health department, you should contact an attorney. An attorney can investigate the situation and advise you on the legal responsibilities of the home and appropriate next steps you can take.
- What constitutes abuse or neglect?
Any of the following types of behavior on the part of the nursing home constitute abuse or neglect:
Improper diet
Abandonment
Willful desertion
Physical abuse of any kind
Failing to clean dressings or bed clothes
Bed sores from failure to turn the patient
Any other treatment that has, or could, result in physical harm, pain or mental suffering
- How can I find a good nursing home?
Start by getting a trusted referral – speak to friends, colleagues and your relative’s physician or other health care providers. They can all be excellent sources for identifying a good home for your loved one. Schedule appointments with more than one home – and visit the facilities more than once so you can see how the residents are cared for, what kinds of activities are available and how many staff appear to be on duty. Also be aware of cleanliness and how the residents appear – do they appear to be groomed or neglected, are they able to interact with one another and the staff?
- Are there any reports or information I can request from the home before I make my decision?
Once you have narrowed down your search, an important source of information can be the inspection report – request this from the nursing home director for your review.
- The nursing home director suggested I shouldn’t visit my mother too soon after she moves into the facility or it might affect my mother’s adjustment to her new home. Does this seem right?
Nursing home staff should never discourage you from visiting your loved ones – and those that do may have something to hide. If your instincts tell you that something isn’t quite right about the nursing home facility you have selected, it’s important to pay attention – those instincts are frequently correct, and it’s better to err on the side of caution than risk the care of a loved one.
- My mother has Alzheimer’s – but the nursing home she lived in currently doesn't have any special care options or facilities for patients with her condition. Do I need a special home for her?
Those suffering from Alzheimer’s have special needs that other nursing home or managed care residents may not, so it’s important to ask about whether the home you have selected is equipped to deal with those needs. Do they pay attention to the coming and going of residents, to prevent your mother from wandering off the premises? Do they help to remind residents about medication and personal hygiene in a manner that is responsible yet respectful? These are questions to ask before entrusting your relative with Alzheimer’s or dementia to any nursing home – while you do not want your loved one to feel imprisoned, you do want to be sure she will be safe and attended to with care and dignity.
- My father-in-law recently passed away; and I feel that his nursing home may not have taken adequate care of him, which could have led to his death. What should I do?
Write down any details pertaining to his care that you can recall – and contact a personal injury or malpractice attorney with experience in nursing home neglect. He or she will help advise you on whether you have a potential case and the appropriate next steps.
- My mother fell in a nursing home a few months ago. She was 75-years-old at the time and suffered a badly broken hip. Unfortunately, she later passed away from surgery complications. It seems to me that the broken hip may have lead to her death. Are falls common and can they lead to more serious problems?
Most falls are preventable. It is the responsibility of the nursing home to identify those residents at risk for falls and to issue care plans to prevent falls from occurring. The prevention of falls is essential as hip fractures dramatically increase the risk of declining health and death.
- A few days ago I noticed that my grand-father has a bedsore on his leg. He looks extremely uncomfortable. A nursing home aid told me that bedsores are a common problem, can be treated, and that I shouldn’t be worried. Should I be concerned?
Most bedsores are preventable if the nursing home carefully insures that the resident is well nourished and repositioned. A well qualified nurse consultant can assist a family in determining if a bedsore was unavoidable or caused by the negligence of the nursing facility.
- My father has bad bruising on his chest and arms. My wife and I suspect that he may be the victim of abuse, but don’t know this for sure and would hate to make false accusations. We’re scared for his safety. What should we do?
A nursing home patient has many rights, including the right to be free of abuse. The victim has rights not only against the person causing the injury, but also against the facility for allowing them abuse to occur.
