Nursing Home Negligence in Washington D.C.

When the time comes where your loved one can no longer care for him or herself, you are faced with a tough decision. If you decide it best to put your loved one in a nursing home, you expect they will treat your loved one with the respect and dignity he or she deserves. Nursing homes are legally required to be sanitary, safe, and secure places to live. When they fail to abide by this standard, your loved one may be at risk. If you suspect your loved one is being neglected or abused by nursing home staff or employers, here are some of the questions you may have:

How do I know if a nursing home is neglecting my loved one?

Some signs of abuse that you should look out for are as follows:

  • Malnutrition
  • Sudden weight loss
  • Verbal abuse or harassment
  • Bedsores or pressure ulcers
  • Broken bones
  • Improper medication dosing
  • Infections
  • Reports of physical or sexual abuse
  • Injuries from nursing home falls
  • Dehydration

How can I report a bad nursing home?

You have several options. You may call the police, speak with facility management, or report the incident to the Department of Health. You may also call the Nursing Home Complaint Hotline at 1-888-201-4563 or print and fill out the Nursing Home Complaint Form. To have your complaint processed quickly and efficiently, ensure you type and print clearly, include all names and phone numbers with whom you have already filed a complaint with, attach copies of paper materials that support your concern, and ensure you complete the form in its entirety.

How do you prove a nursing home is abusing or neglecting my loved one?

Proving nursing home negligence is a delicate, though extremely important and time-sensitive matter. Therefore, you must have a plan of action before delving in. You should contact the local authorities, as mentioned above. Not only can police at least temporarily ensure your loved one is placed in better hands, but they will also document the incident of negligence or abuse, which you may then use to prove your claim. You should also take pictures of the negligent or hazardous conditions, or try and recover security camera footage of the negligent behavior. Lastly, you should ensure your loved one sees a medical professional after an incident of negligence or abuse, as a physician will treat his or her injuries accordingly and provide you with medical documents detailing their extent, which you may also use to prove your claim.

Contact our experienced Washington D.C. firm

The experienced personal injury and medical malpractice attorneys at Trombly & Singer, PLLC are prepared to represent clients facing legal matters after being injured due to another person’s negligence. If you require strong legal representation in Washington D.C. or Maryland, contact our firm today to schedule a consultation.