Nursing Home Lawyer Rapid City, SD

Our nursing home lawyer Rapid City, SD families rely on, knows that the decision to put your family member into a nursing home was not easy to make. In an ideal world, our elderly loved ones could stay with families as they get older. Unfortunately, this is often impossible for many South Dakota families due to the care the senior requires, and work and other commitments families have. Choosing a nursing home can be difficult, especially considering you will want to be sure that your loved one receives the best possible care. While you might have thought you have chosen wisely, the reality is that many facilities do not provide the care that they promise.

Nursing homes are chronically understaffed, often with under-qualified employees to care for residents. Being able to recognize the signs of nursing home abuse can help to reduce the likelihood that your loved one will be harmed or will alert you to the possibility that they are being neglected or abuse. The Law Offices of Clayborne, Loos & Sabers LLP understands that when families know what signs indicate it’s time to contact a lawyer, this can make a significant difference in any legal action if their loved one has suffered abuse. 

Tips for Choosing the Right Nursing Home

Choosing the right nursing home for your family member is a great decision. As a person ages, you may realize that they require more care than you can provide to them. Taking on the task of finding a nursing home that will offer your loved one, adequate care can feel overwhelming at times. Here are some tips for choosing the right nursing home:

1.   Consider having your loved one evaluated to determine whether they require care
2.   Consider the type of care that can meet the needs of your loved one. This could be, home health care, an assisted living community or a nursing home facility 
3.   Evaluate costs and what the affordable options might be for you and your family
4.   Search for a nursing home that is within proximity to family so that they can frequently visit
5.   Consider accessing a nursing agency that can help connect you with prospective options
6.   Visit the facilities you are interested in prepared with a list of questions. While there, count nursing staff, observe interactions between staff and patients and signs that patients are well cared for
7.   Ask specific questions about staffing, ratios, training, and credentials
8.   Make a pop in visit to the nursing home when they are not expecting you

While placing your family member into a nursing home is probably not something you are looking forward to, finding the right facility can ensure that your loved one is well cared for. 

When to Contact a Rapid City, SD Nursing Home Lawyer

If your loved one has been injured as a result of nursing home abuse or neglect, chances are you removed them from danger as quickly as possible. Signs of nursing home abuse include:

• Unexplained injuries
• Mood Changes
• Isolation
• Signs of Restraint
• Not Being Allowed Alone with Them
• Confusion or Fatigue
• Poor Hygiene

Nursing home abuse is incredibly difficult to witness, and once the dust has settled, it can be easy to put taking legal action on the back burner. However, the time to contact a lawyer is now. When someone has been injured due to nursing home negligence, they have likely failed to uphold their duty of care. A lawyer can help navigate the complicated process of gathering medical records, reviewing facility violations, and more. 

Types of Abuse

According to the World Health Organization, one in six elderly people are victims of some form of abuse. And while there are many tragic cases where the abuse or neglect is perpetrated by a family member, a nursing home lawyer in Rapid City, SD knows the data shows that two out of three healthcare workers that provide care for senior citizens admit to having abuses a senior in their care. There are also many cases of residents being abused by other residents and the staff are either unaware or fail to take action to protect the resident being victimized. And since this abuse or neglect can quickly cause the elderly loved one’s health to deteriorate, it is critical for families to understand the types of abuse and what the signs are.

Physical Abuse

Physical abuse comes in many forms including hitting, slapping, pushing, biting, pinching, and punching. Signs to look for include bruising, scratches, cuts, and sprains. If the resident suffers a fractured bone, families need to push staff for answers as to how the fracture occurred. While it could have been caused by an innocent fall, it could also be a sign of abuse.

Emotional Abuse

As a Rapid City, SD nursing home lawyer can explain, emotional or psychological abuse can be just as dangerous to an elderly resident as physical abuse. It can also be harder to identify. If your loved one suddenly becomes withdrawn, depression, anxious, or other personality changes, that could be signs that someone is yelling, threatening, humiliating, or subjecting them to other types of emotional abuse.

Neglect

Families entrust nursing homes staff to provide their loved one with the specialized care they need. When the facility fails to provide the resident with enough food, water, or medical care, the result can be serious illness or death of the victim. Other signs of neglect include lack of personal hygiene, bedsores, weight loss, or other changes in appearance.

When considering the right lawyer to assist you, reaching out to The Law Offices of Clayborne, Loos & Sabers LLP can help provide you with the peace of mind you and your family deserve during this difficult time. Our team is experienced in managing nursing home cases and can help you put together a case that gives your family member the best opportunity at a favorable outcome. Our Rapid City, South Dakota, nursing home lawyer, is standing by to assist you in taking action.