How Long Should You Wait to Report Suspected Nursing Home Abuse?

October 2, 2019

Some people spent months or years debating whether or not to put their loved one into a nursing home, people also struggle with the question of how long should you wait to report suspected nursing home abuse? It can be one of the hardest decisions you ever make. You do a lot of research before you decide on a nursing home.

Some of the factors that affect your choice of nursing home or assisted living facility are:

  • Location – You don’t want it to be so far that you can’t visit often. You also want to be close enough in case there is an emergency or medical issue.
  • Price – If you’re paying out of pocket, it’s important that you find a home you can afford. While most nursing home residents have Medicaid or Medicare, some do rely on private financing.
  • Cleanliness – You want to make sure the home smells nice and appears clean. One of the biggest complaints of nursing homes is that they smell unpleasant. You don’t want your love one to live in an unpleasant environment.
  • Care – You do want to do some research on the care provided at the facility. Look at reviews and testimonials. Check out the state reports when it comes to inspections. Look at the nursing home’s safety records.
  • Communal Life – You want to make sure the home offers a communal living environment for your loved one. You don’t want them feel like they’ve been abandoned.
  • Staff to Resident Ratio – You want to make sure the facility offers a fair staff to resident care ratio. If there aren’t enough people to take care of the patients, there’s bound to be neglect.

After spending so much time researching a home, you’ll feel better about your choice. So when you start to suspect that your loved one isn’t being care for, or is being abused, you may second guess yourself.

One of the biggest things you can do jeopardize your nursing home abuse claim is waiting too long to report the abuse. This is why you should call an experienced nursing home abuse lawyer in Columbia as soon as possible.

Why Would You Keep Your Loved One in a Home if They’re in Danger?

If you truly believe your loved one is being abused, why wouldn’t you move them? This is the first question the defendant’s attorney will ask if you file a claim for nursing home abuse. If you thought your loved one was in danger, wouldn’t you move them to a different nursing home right away?

This makes sense. If you really believe someone is neglecting or hurting your loved one, you need to report it right away. This means you want do the following:

  • Report your concerns to the nursing home administrator
  • Contact your local Ombudsman
  • Write your concerns down in writing and communicate with both the nursing home and the state office
  • Have your loved one examined by medical professional that doesn’t work for the nursing home
  • Take pictures of any issues, including bruises, physical injuries, missing property, unkempt room, your loved one’s appearance
  • Transfer your loved one to a different facility
  • Call an experienced nursing home abuse lawyer in Columbia

As long as you take these steps, you should be able to preserve your loved one’s claim. However, if you wait too long, you can jeopardize your chance at filing a lawsuit.

How Can an Experienced Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer in Columbia Help?

A lot of people are afraid to pull the trigger when they suspect their loved one is being neglected. They may feel they are overreacting. Or, they believe their expectations are a bit too high.

You can call and speak to a skilled nursing home abuse lawyer at Connell Law Firm instead. Let them contact the nursing home and help you document the issues. Of course, they’ll need you to get the direct evidence. You’ll be the one to visit your loved one’s room. You can also take pictures of any proof of abuse or neglect.

In order to get your loved one justice, you really do need an experienced nursing home lawyer in Columbia, South Carolina. They know what questions to ask. They also know what to look for when it comes to nursing home abuse and neglect.

Call today and schedule your initial consultation. It’s absolutely free and you pay nothing until your loved one’s case is settled. The nursing home is going to have a team of lawyer working for them. You don’t want to try to handle something like this alone.