Oklahoma City Nursing Home Negligence Lawyer
Victims of Negligence in the Nursing Home Setting
Not all nursing homes are equal in their ability to provide adequate care for their residents. The best care facilities consider the special needs of each and every one of their residents. They hire enough qualified staff to meet those needs. The residents’ physical, mental and psycho-social well-being is taken into consideration, and protocol is frequently reviewed and adjusted if improvements are called for. In summary, good nursing homes take a holistic and attentive approach to elderly care.
On the other side of the spectrum, there are nursing homes that fail to provide residents even the most basic needs. They tend to be under-staffed or hire employees with inadequate training. These facilities usually are under-funded as well, forcing them to cut corners and sacrifice quality of care. However, this does not excuse them from being neglectful. Even with financial issues, a nursing home should be able to provide a healthy environment for its elderly residents.
If you suspect your loved one is suffering neglect or abuse in his or her nursing home, get in touch with experienced Oklahoma nursing home neglect attorney Ray Maples. He believes that the elderly deserve to live out their remaining years with comfort and dignity. He fights hard to bring justice and peace to those who’ve been denied their right to a good life. For a free consultation, call (405) 883-4487.
Types and Signs of Nursing Home Neglect
Neglect is not active or malicious like abuse. What constitutes neglect is passivity, or doing nothing when something needs to be done. When nursing home staff are neglectful, they are failing to provide for the needs of residents, such as:
- Basic needs and bodily functions: These include eating, drinking and using the bathroom. If these needs are not met, a resident may become malnourished, dehydrated or soil himself or herself.
- Movement and shifting of position: If a resident is disabled, he or she may need assistance shifting position in bed and in chairs to avoid bed sores and other injuries.
- Hygienic operations: Some elders may need assistance with washing and cleaning. They may also need help changing into clean clothes and keeping their bed sheets nice and fresh. Negligence of this type may result in bad body odor, dirty clothes, tooth decay and other issues.
- Protection from falls: According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the elderly face great risk for fall injury. It is up to staff to take measures to prevent fall injuries from occurring.
- Protection from abuse: If a nursing home staff member knows of abuse that is going on, but does nothing to stop it, then he or she is being neglectful under Oklahoma law.
If you have an elderly loved one in a nursing home, you should make your visits as frequent but sporadic as well, not only to check on your elder, but also to keep the nursing home staff alert and on guard. Talk to your elder and examine them closely. Check for any physical signs of neglect such as bedsores, bruises, or significant weight loss. Also make sure he or she is having his or her mental needs addressed. If your loved one is unresponsive or exhibits other disturbing behaviors, talk with the facility’s operator and staff to find out what’s wrong. If the nursing home associates fail to give you a satisfactory answer, consult with an attorney to see if you have a nursing home neglect case on your hands.
Contact the Oklahoma Nursing Home Neglect Lawyers Today
Our line is open all day, every day, at (405) 883-4487. If you are an Oklahoma City local, you can also call (405) 883-4487. We can provide you with a comprehensive and confidential case evaluation at no cost to you. Please view our Verdicts & Settlements webpage to learn about our stellar case history.