According to the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs,1 there are 440 nursing homes in the state. These facilities are responsible for ensuring the health and well-being of some of the most vulnerable members of our society, including older adults and the disabled. While nursing homes and other long-term care facilities are subject to myriad state and federal regulations that are designed to ensure that residents receive quality care, every year thousands of nursing residents sustain injury as the result of the negligent or intentional acts of the very people who are supposed to be providing them with care.
Nursing home injuries can have a significant impact on a person’s quality of life and can entitle victims to financial recovery. To schedule a free consultation with a Michigan nursing home abuse lawyer, call Michigan Injury Lawyers today at (888) 454-0801.
Loved ones should be on the lookout for signs of nursing home abuse
It is a widely accepted fact that the vast majority of nursing home abuse cases go unreported. In some cases, a nursing home resident may be too embarrassed to report the abuse or neglect, be unable to do so, or simply be unaware that the abuse or neglect is occurring. As a result, it is important for loved one of nursing home residents to be aware of the signs of abuse or neglect and take appropriate action if they notice anything that indicates that abuse or neglect may have occurred. Some of the more common signs of nursing home abuse and neglect include the following:
- Bed sores
- Unexplained infections
- Unsanitary conditions
- Weight loss
- Loss of interest in activities
- Bruising
- Depression and emotional withdrawal
- Overmedication
- Dehydration
- Open wounds
Loved ones should also be aware that elder abuse can take many forms, including physical, emotional, and financial. If you suspect that elder abuse is happing and poses an imminent risk of harm, call 911 or the local police immediately. In other cases, loved ones should alert the facility’s management and call the Michigan Department of Consumer & Industry Services and the state’s attorney general’s office.2
Contact a Michigan nursing home abuse attorney to schedule a free case evaluation
Nursing home residents that are subjected to neglect and/or abuse are often entitled to significant financial compensation. Anyone who suspects that their loved one has been injured by the intentional or negligence act of nursing home staff should contact an experienced attorney as soon as possible. The Michigan nursing home abuse attorneys of Michigan Injury Lawyers are dedicated to helping people who have been injured in nursing homes recover for their losses. To schedule a free consultation with one of our lawyers, please call our office today at (888) 454-0801.
References:
1 http://www.michigan.gov/lara/0,4601,7-154-63294_63384—,00.html
2 http://www.michigan.gov/ag