The experience of committing an aging family member to a nursing home or skilled nursing facility can be particularly worrisome. Concern over whether he or she will be properly and adequately cared for on a daily basis is common. These feelings, however, are not unfounded.
Sadly, nursing home abuse and neglect is more prevalent than we realize. In fact, over 40 percent of nursing home residents report abuse, and over 90 percent report that they or other residents experience neglect. What’s more, only one in 24 cases of abuse are properly reported.
Even if you visit your loved one frequently and routinely, it’s possible to miss signs of nursing home negligence–especially if he or she is nonverbal.
If your loved one is currently in a nursing home, be on the lookout for signs of elder abuse and neglect. The most common and obvious signs include: malnutrition, bruising, falls, dehydration, and bedsores. Less obvious signs can include health code violations and improper staffing.
Thankfully, on March 23, 2022, the State of Ohio signed into effect a law aimed at protecting nursing home residents from elder abuse and neglect. “Esther’s Law,” named after a victim of nursing home abuse, grants residents and their representatives the ability to install electronic monitoring devices in residents’ rooms to monitor the quality of care they receive.
At Obral, Silk & Pal, LLC, we have many years of experience representing victims of nursing home negligence and their families. If you currently have a family member in a nursing facility, we encourage you to take advantage of Esther’s Law. Even if you are unable to regularly review the video footage, merely having a camera present in your loved one’s room can have a deterrent effect on staff.
Additionally, if you or a loved one have experienced nursing home abuse/neglect, you may have a potential personal injury claim. Contact the experienced attorneys at Obral, Silk & Pal, LLC for a FREE case evaluation. Use our case evaluation tool found on our home page www.216Lawyers.com Twenty-four hours a day.
Injuries change lives…so do we.