Oklahoma Lawmakers Call for Increased Nursing Home Oversight
House Speaker T.W. Shannon has rejected an interim legislative study to explore the improvement of Oklahoma nursing homes, and many legislators are not happy about his decision. According to a news report in The Associated Press, a number of lawmakers want more oversight of Oklahoma nursing homes because of the recent F grade that the state of Oklahoma received in a nursing home study conducted by a Florida-based advocacy group.
In that study, Oklahoma ranked last in the country with regard to the amount of daily professional nursing care the average resident receives. According to the report, the average Oklahoma nursing home resident only receives about 29 minutes of professional nursing care each day. Oklahoma ranked 48th in the country for overall nursing home care. It is not clear why the House Speaker rejected plans to study Oklahoma’s low ranking, but many lawmakers are clamoring for steps to be taken in order to protect Oklahoma’s elderly.
While it is unclear what will be done statewide to protect nursing home residents, there are steps that you can take to help your loved one.
- Visit often: Meeting the employees who will work directly with your loved one can keep the workers on their toes. If you visit at random times of day, they will know that you are an active participant in your loved one’s life.
- Install a secret camera: You can purchase a hidden camera to install in your loved one’s room to help you determine if wrongdoing is taking place.
- Ask questions: Talk to the care providers and supervisors about your concerns. Ask your loved one about any bruises or physical injuries he or she may have suffered. Talk to other residents about how they are being treated at the facility.
- Request to see medical records: When your loved one has injuries, ask to see his or her medical records. If there are injuries that are not on the records, it could be a warning sign of a cover-up.
- Seek help: If you suspect that abuse has taken place, call the authorities, a state ombudsman, and a personal injury lawyer to learn about your legal options.
The experienced Oklahoma nursing home neglect lawyers at Maples Law Firm fight for the rights of elderly nursing home residents and their families. You can reach our offices today at (405) 705-5050 to discuss your legal rights and options at absolutely no cost.