Certified nursing homes in Oklahoma City and throughout the state are required to respect their residents’ rights and protections under federal and state law. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Too many instances of nursing home abuse and negligence have been reported in recent years. In fact, the Sooner State has been deemed one of the worst in the country when it comes to the quality of our assisted care facilities. This is a drastic issue that needs to be addressed by legislators in prompt fashion.
Until the state of our nursing homes vastly improves, it is primarily up to nursing home residents to look out for themselves and ensure that they are receiving the treatment they deserve. If you are a nursing home resident, know that you have the right to:
- Be treated with respect by all staff,
- Participate in activities with other residents,
- Be free from discrimination as dictated by local, state and federal civil rights laws,
- Be free from abuse and neglect,
- Be free from both physical and chemical restraints,
- Make complaints to the staff without fear of retaliation, and
- Get proper medical care.
If you believe your nursing home is not respecting your rights, you should:
- Tell a trusted family member;
- Contact Adult Protective Services;
- Contact the Long-Term Care Ombudsman; and/or
- Consult with a qualified attorney who has experience handling nursing home abuse/neglect cases.
For more than a decade, the compassionate Oklahoma personal injury lawyers at Maples Law Firm have been protecting the rights of nursing home residents and other elderly individuals throughout the state. If you are experiencing abuse and/or neglect in your nursing home, please let us help you get to a safer environment and bring the wrongful parties to justice. Call us today at (405) 705-5050.
