Nursing home residents may require help with medications, meals, mobility, hygiene, wound care, and serious medical conditions. Families have the right to expect that this care will be delivered competently and compassionately.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, nursing home neglect and abuse remain serious concerns in Oklahoma. Harm may be caused by abusive staff members, inadequate training, poor supervision, understaffing, medication errors, and failure to follow a resident\u2019s care plan.<\/p>\n
The Oklahoma City nursing home neglect and abuse attorneys at Maples Harrison Zeaman PLLC <\/strong>can review medical records, staffing documents, incident reports, care plans, photographs, and witness accounts to determine whether a preventable failure contributed to the harm you loved one has suffered.<\/p>\n Nursing home abuse<\/strong> involves intentional conduct that harms, threatens, intimidates, or exploits a resident. Nursing home neglect<\/strong> usually involves the failure to provide the care, supervision, or medical attention reasonably necessary to protect a resident.<\/p>\n Examples of abuse or neglect may include:<\/p>\n Bedsores<\/strong>, also referred to as pressure ulcers<\/strong>. These injuries develop when prolonged pressure restricts blood flow to the skin and underlying tissue. Residents with limited mobility are particularly vulnerable.<\/p>\n Nursing homes should assess each resident\u2019s risk and implement appropriate preventive measures. These may include repositioning the resident, keeping the skin clean and dry, providing adequate nutrition, using pressure-relieving surfaces, and monitoring vulnerable areas.<\/p>\n CMS instructs inspectors to evaluate whether nursing homes properly identify pressure-ulcer risks, implement interventions, monitor residents, and revise care when necessary. A pressure ulcer may be considered avoidable when a facility fails to take appropriate assessment, prevention, monitoring, or treatment measures.<\/p>\n Warning signs include:<\/p>\n Severe pressure ulcers can damage muscle and bone and may lead to dangerous infections.<\/p>\n Older adults may face an increased risk of falling, but that does not mean every nursing home fall is unavoidable. A fall may result from:<\/p>\n After a fall, the facility should evaluate the resident for injuries, notify the appropriate parties, document what happened, and update the care plan when necessary. Repeated falls may suggest that the nursing home recognized a danger but failed to take effective precautions.<\/p>\n Residents often depend entirely on nursing home staff to administer medications correctly. Medication errors can cause falls, bleeding, organ damage, confusion, hospitalization, or death. Unexplained sedation, sudden behavioral changes, or rapid physical decline may justify a review of the resident\u2019s medication administration records.<\/p>\n Medications errors may include:<\/p>\n One warning sign may have an innocent explanation. A pattern of injuries, poor care, inconsistent answers, or delayed treatment requires closer examination. Families should pay attention to unexplained changes in a resident\u2019s health, appearance, finances, or behavior.<\/p>\n Warning signs may include:<\/p>\n First, address any immediate medical emergency. Call 911 or arrange outside medical treatment when necessary.<\/p>\n Oklahoma\u2019s Ombudsman Program serves residents of nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and similar adult care homes. Complaints regarding care or residents\u2019 rights can also be directed through the state\u2019s long-term care complaint process.<\/p>\n If you suspect neglect or abuse, you\u2019ll want to take these steps:<\/p>\n The personal injury lawyers at Maples Harrison Zeaman PLLC<\/strong> have been representing individuals and families harmed by nursing home neglect and abuse since 2002, and we have won millions of dollars for our clients.<\/p>\n If you believe a loved one has suffered serious neglect or abuse, call (405) 705-5050<\/strong> to schedule a free consultation<\/strong>. Our attorneys can review what happened, explain your legal options, and determine whether your family has grounds to pursue an Oklahoma nursing home negligence claim or lawsuit.<\/p>\n The signs of nursing home abuse can include unexplained bruises, bedsores, frequent falls, sudden weight loss, dehydration, poor hygiene, untreated infections, medication errors, emotional withdrawal, or changes in behavior.<\/p>\n You should contact a nursing home abuse lawyer as soon as you suspect your loved one has suffered preventable harm. An attorney can help preserve evidence, obtain medical and facility records, investigate whether neglect or abuse occurred, and explain your legal options.<\/p>\n Successful elder neglect claims may allow families to recover compensation for medical expenses, hospitalization, rehabilitation, pain and suffering, emotional distress, disability, and other losses resulting from the neglect. If the abuse or neglect contributed to a resident’s death, surviving family members may have the right to pursue a wrongful death claim under Oklahoma law.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Nursing home residents may require help with medications, meals, mobility, hygiene, wound care, and serious medical conditions. Families have the right to expect that this care will be delivered competently…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3129,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3128","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nursing-home-neglect-abuse"],"yoast_head":"\nWhat Is Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect?<\/h2>\n
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Bedsores May Be a Sign of Inadequate Care<\/h2>\n
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Falls Should Always Be Investigated<\/h2>\n
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Medication Errors Can Have Devastating Consequences<\/h2>\n
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What Are the Signs of Nursing Home Abuse?<\/h2>\n
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What Should Families Do When They Suspect Neglect or Abuse?<\/h2>\n
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Speak With a Trusted Oklahoma Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Attorney<\/h2>\n
Frequently Asked Questions About Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse in Oklahoma<\/h3>\n
What are the most common signs of nursing home abuse or neglect?<\/h3>\n
When should I contact a nursing home abuse lawyer?<\/h3>\n
What compensation may be available in an elder neglect claim?<\/h3>\n