Maryland Nursing Home Lawyer Blog
Choosing the right care facility or nursing home for a family member is a stressful and complicated process. It is vital to know that our most vulnerable loved ones are being placed in a caring, comfortable, and safe environment. Unfortunately, recent events have left many nursing and care homes with staffing shortages, training deficiencies, and a lack of supplies. When nursing homes fail to meet the basic requirements of care for residents or worse, they must be held accountable.
How Many Nursing Home Complaints Are There Each Year in the US?
In 2020, Nursing Home Abuse Justice, an advocacy organization for nursing home abuse, found that over 15,000 complaints filed with nursing home ombudsmen were about abuse or neglect. Maryland is sadly no exception to this trend. If you have a loved one or family member in a nursing or long-term care facility, you must recognize the signs of neglect or abuse and report them promptly to the relevant authorities in order to hold the perpetrators accountable. Signs of abuse range from unexplained bruising to the sudden onset of depression and confusion, or dramatic changes in spending habits. It is important to remember that abuse can be perpetrated by a loved one, caregivers, and staff at a nursing home facility.
According to recent local news reporting, a Charlotte nursing home is under investigation after a family claims their loved one was neglected, abused, and later died. The patient was rushed to a hospital from the nursing home suffering from malnutrition and neglect. Several days later, the patient died from pneumonia, septic shock, and aggressive dementia. According to the hospital, he should not have been in his condition of health coming from a care facility. The hospital also noted that there were very clear signs of abuse and neglect, and the hospital reported the facility to Mecklenburg County.
Why Does Nursing Home Abuse Go Largely Unreported?
Due to the power imbalance at play between residents and staff, many victims of nursing home abuse are hesitant to take action from within a facility. Additionally, many residents may have trouble communicating their experiences or are unable to fully grasp what is happening to them. As a result, it often falls to visitors and loved ones to advocate for them when things go wrong. It is extremely important to take a resident seriously if they disclose or report instances of nursing home neglect or abuse.
Do You Need a Maryland Nursing Home Neglect Attorney?
If you or someone you love has been harmed by a negligent care facility in the Prince George’s, Baltimore, Charles, or Montgomery County region, let the attorneys at Lebowitz & Mzhen help you recover the damages you deserve. Our attorneys have many years of experience fighting for the injured and will work to provide you with the support, legal knowledge, and confidence to proceed with your claim. The costs stemming from injury or abuse can quickly become overwhelming, and having a team of experienced lawyers on your side can make all the difference. To schedule a free and confidential consultation today, contact us at 800-654-1949.