Claims of Maryland nursing home abuse often focus on abuse by staff members—but abuse by fellow residents occurs as well. Residents may be charged and convicted of crimes in some cases, but the facility may be liable for its role in the abuse as well.
Residents in Maryland nursing homes deserve to be treated with dignity and respect and to live in a safe environment. This means that nursing home facilities must have proper policies and procedures in place and adequate staffing to reasonably protect residents. Although a facility cannot ensure the safety of every one of its residents, some incidents are avoidable if proper measures are taken. A facility may be liable, for example, if a staff member failed to do routine checks or failed to protect other residents from a known violent resident.
A study conducted by the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care found that almost twenty percent of residents in the study experienced resident-on-resident abuse. The study also found that resident-on-resident abuse often occurs and escalates specifically because staff members are absent. Residents involved in resident-on-resident abuse were more likely to be younger, less cognitively impaired, less physically impaired, display disturbing behaviors, live in a dementia special care unit, and white. The National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center recommends adopting a person-centered approach to prevent resident-to-resident abuse incidents, by identifying and documenting incidents and developing individual strategies.
Patient Arrested for Assaulting Another Resident After Viral Video
According to a recent news report, police arrested a 20-year-old patient at a nursing home who assaulted a 75-year-old resident at the nursing home. A video showed the assault and was circulated on social media. It shows the young resident punching the older resident many times, leaving him injured and bleeding. The victim was taken to a hospital to be treated for his injuries.
Police said that the nursing home did not know about the assault until it saw the viral video. The nursing home reportedly believed that the resident had fallen from his bed. The young resident also took the victim’s credit cards. The young resident was charged with two counts of assault with intent to do great bodily harm, larceny, and other charges. Another video apparently surfaced that showed the same young resident attacking another victim. Relatives have expressed fear and concern for their family members at the same facility.
Maryland Nursing Home Lawyers
If your loved one has suffered abuse at a Maryland nursing home, discuss the facts of your case with a Maryland nursing home lawyer. At Lebowitz & Mzhen, Personal Injury Lawyers, our compassionate nursing home lawyers take pride in advocating for the rights of victims of nursing home abuse. Our attorneys will assess your claim, discuss your options with you, and guide you through each step of the legal process. Our legal team is committed to taking the time to understand your situation and to tailor a plan to meet your individual needs. To set up a free consultation call us at (800) 654-1949 or contact us online.