Things a Lawyer Can Tell You About Preventing Nursing Home Neglect…
When a loved one is in a nursing home, it is important for families to be proactive. Preventing neglect is best done when people know their rights and learn how to recognize the signs and symptoms of elder abuse. As an accomplished elder law and personal injury attorney, I place great importance on educating my clients to prevent harm. To talk with me about your loved one, please complete my intake form or call The Karl W. Schoth Law Firm in Glendora, California, at 909-592-4883.
You Have an Absolute Right to Your Medical Record.
It is important to know your rights. Under a federal law called the HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) Privacy Rule and under California state law, you have the right to see and get a copy of your medical records. You also have the right to amend your records by adding to them. Any nursing home that denies you this right may be hiding indications of elder abuse. Fortunately, the law also gives you the right to file a complaint and to sue in state court to get access.
You Should Investigate Your Care Facility's History.
When placing a loved one in a nursing home, it is important to know whether or not the facility has a history of elder abuse. Families my investigate the care facilities they choose by contacting the Department of Health Services (DHS) if it's a skilled nursing facility, or the Department of Social Services (DSS) if it is a continuing care retirement community.
Make Sure That Your Paperwork Is in Place.
When a loved one is entering a nursing home, a family should consider advanced medical planning. It may help significantly to designate a health care proxy to make health care decisions when a loved one is unable to.
Watch for the Formation of Pressure Sores (Pressure Ulcers).
The key to treating pressure sores, called decubitus ulcers, is prevention. Pressure sores can develop anywhere a bedridden person touches the bed, although they tend to develop at the heels and top of the buttocks. At first, they look like a very mild pink coloration of the skin that disappears in a few hours after the pressure is relieved, but at their most severe, they can be a deep wound extending through the skin and muscle.
When visiting a loved one in a nursing home, make sure to lift the sheets and roll them over to check for the formation of pressure sores. If necessary, bring a strong friend with you. Don't worry about the staff seeing you do this; sometimes it is better that nursing homes know you are keeping a close eye on their actions.
Watch for Malnutrition or Dehydration.
Malnutrition and dehydration are serious conditions that can lead to other personal injury, like speeding the formation of pressure sores. There are signs that families can learn to recognize. When pinched, the skin of a dehydrated person will not rebound as it should. Malnutrition may be indicated by hair loss or a yellow coloration of the skin.
Elder abuse should not happen. As an experienced elder law attorney, I help families hold nursing homes accountable. If a loved one may have become the victim of elder abuse while in a nursing home, please complete my intake form or call me at 909-592-4883.
