Unexplained physical injury is one of the common signs of nursing home abuse. Bruises, broken bones, and open wounds that are allowed to become infected can be life-threatening to elderly people, especially if they cannot communicate their concerns to caregivers. Staff members may use restraints to keep residents tied to their beds, handle residents too roughly, or even inflict sexual abuse on residents who are unable to defend themselves.Nursing Home Abuse Is Illegal Under State and Federal Law
Each resident of a nursing home is protected from elder abuse under both Maryland and federal law. State nursing home rights are outlined in the Code of Maryland Regulation and include laws pertaining to the facility itself, the facility’s nursing services, access and ability for a patient to complain about treatment, proper medication use, grooming and patient bathing, and various other protections against neglect and injury. In addition, the federal 1987 Nursing Home Reform Law created the Resident’s Bill of Rights, which guarantees that residents should be given…
- Freedom from abuse, including physical, verbal, sexual, or emotional mistreatment, and the right to be treated with respect and dignity.
- Information about the nursing home in a language they understand, including services and charges, rules and regulations, advance notice of major changes, and contact information for filing complaints.
- An active role in their own care, including access to their own medical records, to be able to choose or refuse their own treatment, and the right to receive adequate care.
- The right to privacy and confidentiality in their housing and treatment.
- A safe place in which to live, including adequate security measures to protect patients and their possessions from harm.
- Visitation rights to see family members, friends, doctors, social services providers, and other advocates.
Our Hagerstown Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Can Help You Take Action for a Loved One’s Mistreatment
Nursing homes may quickly hide or destroy any evidence of wrongdoing, making it much more difficult for grieving families to get justice. Our Hagerstown nursing home abuse lawyer can begin an investigation on your behalf, forcing the nursing home to surrender its records and face the consequences of its actions. Contact our team online or give us a call at (301) 790-3600 today to have us get started on your case.
