Abandonment

According to studies by federal agencies, more than half of the nursing homes in the U.S. are inadequately staffed. An even greater number are staffed by poorly trained or unqualified employees.

Residents routinely receive little or no direct care from a registered nurse or other true medical professional. When a nursing home fails to provide the necessary care for an elderly, infirm person, it is considered to be nursing home abandonment.

Nursing home abandonment may be intentional, or it may be the result of an unqualified and/or undermanned staff. In any case, it is a form of elder abuse.

If you suspect nursing home abandonment, take immediate steps to correct it. You should speak with the director of the nursing home about your concerns. You should also contact an experienced nursing home abuse attorney who can review the facts of your case and take legal action if appropriate.

The law firm of Nitsche & Fredricks LLC provides experienced legal counsel in the full array of nursing home abuse and neglect cases. Nursing home abandonment comes in many forms. Common examples include:

• Failure to provide medication as prescribed
• Failure to provide adequate assistance for daily activities
• Leaving a patient who has fallen or slipped on the floor
• Failure to check on a patient regularly
• Failure to help patients turn over in bed (which leads to bedsores and other ailments)
• Failure to ensure that a patient receives proper nutrition
• Failure to use proper bed rails or otherwise secure a patient
• Failure to change soiled clothing or sheets in a timely manner
• Unresponsiveness to a patient's call for assistance

We will aggressively protect your rights or the rights of a loved one when there is an injury because of a failure to properly monitor or supervise patient care. We understand the causes of nursing home negligence and know how to get the compensation your loved one deserves.

If you suspect that your family member is the victim of nursing home abuse — specifically abandonment — ask about the care he or she receives. Detailed questions such as these can help you determine if there is cause for concern — and reason to call us:

• How many times per day does someone from the nursing home staff see you?
• How long does a staff member spend with you at a time?
• How long does it take for a staff member to respond when you ask for help?
• When were your clothes last changed? When were the sheets last changed?
• When did you last receive a bath?
• Are you getting assistance with your meals?

If your loved one is not able to answer questions, ask the nursing home staff or your loved one's roommate. Request documentation supporting the level of care they claim to provide. Among other things, you can ask to see the facility's most recent state health inspection report.

We welcome the opportunity to review the facts of your case and provide a straightforward assessment. Contact us to schedule a free consultation. If you select us to represent you, you will not pay attorney fees unless we obtain a recovery for you.