Caring for an aging family member usually means putting your faith in a nursing home. You count on these facilities to offer a safe atmosphere and to care for your loved one. Sadly, not every nursing home lives up to these expectations. Neglect and abuse do occur, leaving families heartbroken and searching for answers.

When a loved one is harmed in a nursing home, knowing where to start can be difficult. This guide explains that in New York City, families can take specific steps and legal actions to protect their loved ones and pursue justice for the damage done.

Recognizing Signs of Harm in Nursing Homes

Recognizing when something is wrong starts with paying close attention to your loved one’s condition and behavior. If they seem to have unexplained injuries, like bruises or cuts, it could be a sign of improper handling or worse. Signs of mood changes, like sudden withdrawal from you or weird sadness, may be indicators of emotional mistreatment. Likewise, if you realize their hygiene has declined or their living space looks dirty, these can also indicate neglect.

Problems like overzealous weight loss or dehydration are also warning signs. They are often indicators of poor nutritional status or a failure to provide basic care. In more extreme cases, medical conditions can deteriorate due to delayed or inadequate staffing attention. Whenever you notice these red flags, it is crucial to respond quickly. Make use of whatever you can observe, take notes, and collect medical records to make sure you are prepared to act if needed.

Legal Grounds for Filing a Claim

When injuries occur due to the negligence of a nursing home, it is essential to understand the legal basis that allows for a claim. Ordinary negligence is one of the most common types of cases — when a nursing home fails to provide the level of care needed to keep residents safe. On the other hand, abuse can happen — this is when there is intentional harm by employees or other residents. So do things like financial exploitation and emotional mistreatment.

In some cases, the injury may result from medical malpractice. If, for example, the nursing home’s health care providers fail to ensure patients receive adequate medical treatment, this could lead to a worsening condition or preventable injuries. Families can also have grounds to file a claim if the nursing home violates the terms of its contract by, for instance, failing to provide the level of care that it had promised.

Sorting through these claims can be intimidating, but you don’t need to go it alone. We have several experience handling nursing home cases in addition, we know best how to handle the cases. Fill out a contact form and see how we can help your family today.

Steps to Take if Harm Occurs

When a loved one is victimized in a nursing home, time is of the essence. Begin by alerting the facility’s management to your concerns. These steps create a formal record of the problem, which can be useful if the situation worsens. If the facility fails to resolve the issue, report the matter to the New York State Department of Health so that the proper authority can investigate.

Just as important is to seek immediate medical care for the loved one. One can document the injuries and administer the treatment needed to halt the course of injury. Gather as much evidence as possible at the same time. These may be photos of injuries, witness statements, or copies of medical records. This information will help you if you need to take legal action.

Consulting with an attorney who has experience with nursing home cases is a crucial next step. An attorney can review your situation and help you understand what options are available for holding the nursing home accountable. We are available to discuss how we can help your family, so please reach out to schedule a consultation with our office.

Potential Legal Outcomes

Suing a nursing home can have many different outcomes. Most families receive financial compensation, which can help with medical expenses, pain and suffering, and, in sad instances, funeral fees. Lawsuits sometimes will result in changes to the nursing home’s policies or practices so that similar harm isn’t inflicted on others in the future. Holding the responsible parties accountable for the wrongdoings can also bring the family some sense of justice.

Every case is different, and results depend on the particulars of the world of harm. Our team will guide you through what to expect and strive to get you the best resolution possible. Call us today to find out how we can support your family.

Conclusion

It is a struggle to achieve justice and ensure your loved one is safe when they have been harmed by a nursing home. But you don’t have to meet this challenge alone. You may not have to face these troubles of helping your family on your own. But with the right professional help and legal insight, you can safeguard your family and also make sure that wrongdoers are also well punished.

Our firm, The Law Office of Olena Manilich, is dedicated to assisting families like your own in these unparalleled circumstances. We’re here to help, so schedule a consultation to discuss your next steps and how we can help you seek justice and protect your loved one’s well-being.