Article source: Nursing Home Law Center
If you have a family member in a nursing home and you think someone hurt them, you probably don’t know what to do next. That’s how it is for most people. The hard part is separating the facts from what might be just you being worried about your loved one. Is it truly the facility that has let them down, or is their health going downhill due to old age?
This is exactly the type of situation that the Nursing Home Law Center deals with. To be clear, this isn’t a law firm. It’s actually an organization that connects its clients with the attorneys in their network, and they work all over the country.
Their clients are people whose family members have been injured, neglected, abused, or even killed while they were living in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. And there’s a lot to work on with these cases.
Usually, nursing homes and long-term care facilities have records that show what the staff was supposed to do, what care a particular resident needs, what medications they’re taking, how often they have to be checked, whether they’re classified as a fall risk, whether they need help when they eat, etc. Basically, there’s everything down to the very last detail when it comes to residents and their needs. So, the million-dollar question is whether what’s on paper actually happens in practice.
Most nursing homes in the U.S. are understaffed, which affects the quality of care residents get, but that can’t be used as an excuse, and it’s a fact that there’s numerous injuries that can be avoided.
| A major HHS Office of Inspector General study reviewed Medicare beneficiaries who’ve received post-acute care in (reputable) nursing facilities. 22% beneficiaries experienced an adverse event, while 11% experienced temporary harm during their stay. 59% of these issues could have been avoided. – U.S. Department of Health and Human Services |
Bed sores are a good example of that type of injury.
An older resident could already have serious issues with their health, and they might not be able to move properly on their own. Their skin is probably fragile, too. None of that means that they have to get bedsores because they don’t. If the staff repositions them often enough, their skin stays okay. But you have to look at whether the staff truly does that, along with checking their skin and handling potential issues with nutrition.
It’s the same thing with falls. One fall doesn’t automatically mean that someone’s neglected. But if that same resident has already fallen several times, it’s a red flag.
These are the kinds of cases Nursing Home Law Center focuses on.
According to the organization, the attorneys in their network have recovered more than $490 million (USD) for clients and their families. But what’s even more important than the numbers is the fact that cases that involve nursing homes aren’t just one small part of what the organization deals with. They’re the whole focus. The network handles cases involving bed sores, falls, errors in medication, choking, dehydration, sepsis, malnutrition, physical abuse, sexual abuse, wandering, and wrongful death.
Nursing Home Law Center evaluates the cases for free, so you can explain what happened before you sign anything, pay anything, or even decide whether it makes sense to take the case any further. If your case gets accepted, the attorneys usually work on contingency, meaning you don’t pay any attorney fees unless they recover money for you.
One other important thing that needs to be mentioned is that any potential client should ask which attorney from the network will handle their claim. They should ask about their experience with cases similar to theirs, as well as information on how the case would be handled.
Fast Facts
- Nursing Home Law Center focuses solely on cases of neglect and abuse in nursing homes and long-term care facilities.
- According to the organization, its lawyers recovered more than $490 million for clients and their families.
- Case evaluations are free.
- Cases are usually handled on contingency.
- The network handles cases across the U.S. through attorneys licensed in the states where those claims are filed.
- Nursing Home Law Center LLC isn’t a law firm, but an organization. It works with affiliated lawyers who handle the cases.
Types of Cases Nursing Home Law Center Handles
- Bed sores – These are also called pressure sores or pressure ulcers. They’re one of the more common problems when it comes to poor care in nursing homes.
- Falls – Yet another major issue in nursing homes. Cases can involve broken hips, head injuries, brain injuries, and all kinds of other serious complications.
- Medication errors – Residents in nursing homes often take several medications at once. If a dose is wrong or missed, or if the medication itself is wrong, the side effects can be extremely serious.
- Malnutrition and dehydration – Some residents can’t eat or drink without help. Others might have dementia or issues with swallowing. In any case, malnutrition and dehydration can point to bigger problems.
- Abuse and wrongful death – The network also handles cases that involve physical abuse, sexual abuse, serious neglect, and deaths that are a consequence of poor care.
