The elderly population is rapidly growing and they often need additional assistance to complete everyday tasks. This means they may become residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. These facilities are meant to provide residents with the care they require and the empathy they deserve. If this does not happen and instead caretakers and others on the staff take advantage of residents this can be considered abuse. You will need the help of a Philadelphia nursing home abuse attorney.
Resident rights
If you are unclear on the rights that your loved one has while in a nursing home our Philadelphia nursing home abuse attorney can explain them to you. Some of these rights include:
- Freedom from abuse of any form
- Safe and secure living conditions
- Respectful treatment
- Being informed and involved in care and treatment
- Personal information protection
While these are basic, there are many other rights that nursing home residents have. It is important to educate yourself and your loved one on these rights so you are aware of whether something is amiss in the facility or with their care.
Staff responsibilities
While staff and caretakers should ensure that the above rights are maintained they have additional responsibilities, they must also:
- Create an abuse-free environment
- Allow residents the opportunity to have a high quality of life and try to facilitate this as much as possible
- Report allegations of abuse and properly investigate them
- Provide individual care for each resident and ensure accommodations are tailored to a resident’s individual needs
If a facility does not provide this environment and meet all of its responsibilities this can lead to violations and even abuse. When these parties act negligently they will need to be held responsible for their actions and a Philadelphia nursing home abuse attorney will work to do just that.
National Center on Elder Abuse
If your loved one is being abused you have options. The first thing you must do is ensure their safety. You will need to move them from that facility and can do so with the help of the National Center on Elder Abuse.
Pennsylvania Department of Health
Your Philadelphia nursing home abuse attorney will also help you file a complaint with the Pennsylvania Department of Health. They will need to be informed of the treatment their loved one is receiving and will take action. When you are filing complaints you should keep a list of who and when you spoke to this person. This will be critical to your attorney, we will need to prove that actions were taken prior to a lawsuit being filed.
Build a strong case
Depending on the specific facts of the abuse and case, there can be criminal charges that can be filed especially if the abuse was intentional and ongoing, we will build a strong case in order to go up against these major corporations that are often behind the scenes of these nursing homes. We will start by speaking with your loved one if possible. We will also speak to the facility and any witnesses that may become apparent. We will request medical records as well as videos from the facility. These elements will help to build a case and hold negligent parties responsible for their actions.
Obtaining compensation with the help of a nursing home abuse attorney
Once the case is built we will work with experts to determine the appropriate amount of compensation for your loved one’s damages. Our goal will always be to get justice for your loved ones and these cases often lead to long-lasting change in the facility. If your loved one may be suffering from abuse in their nursing home you will need to schedule a consultation with a Philadelphia nursing home abuse attorney from Kwartler Manus LLC by calling our office at (267) 457-5570 or filling out a form today.