Every year in the United States, elders are abused in the very facilities loved ones trusted to take care of them. It is estimated that 1 in 10 elders over the age of 60 has been abused, and 14% of self-reported elder abuses are neglect. If your loved one has experienced abuse in a Maryland nursing home, Mobley and Brown, LLP is here to help.
Can You Sue a Maryland Nursing Home?
Just like you can file a lawsuit against a doctor or hospital, you can file a lawsuit against a nursing home. However, things are not always cut and dry. Nursing homes are not liable for every injury or accident that happens while someone is in their custody. Even with a high standard of care and excellent healthcare staff, elders can still receive injuries or have an accident. However, abuse and neglect are serious problems that can lead to injury or death.
What Is Neglect?
Neglect is defined as failure on behalf of a Maryland nursing home to provide an elder with basic life necessities including housing, medicine, hygiene or food. It’s important to note that neglect in nursing homes is not always malicious or perpetrated by a rude nurse. Instead, ongoing understaffing can lead to employee stress and burnout, which snowball into neglect or abuse.
In Maryland nursing home neglect cases, nursing homes can be liable if they fail to care for a patient properly and they face a negative health consequence, including injury, as a result. Malnutrition can be a type of neglect, as nursing homes have an obligation to ensure patients are eating and drinking properly. Bedsores and falls are other common neglect-related complaints.
What Are the Signs of Neglect?
Many times, loved ones are the first ones to notice changes in an elder that indicate signs of abuse. Some of the signs of Maryland nursing home neglect include:
- Bed sores
- Unusual injuries like bruises, cuts or burns
- Strange explanations for injuries
- Refusal to eat or take medication
- Dehydration
- Bad physical appearance (dirty clothes, poor hygiene)
- Hesitation to talk about abuse out of fear you, other residents or staff members will tell the abuser
- Changes in personality
- Rapid weight loss
If you feel that something is wrong or notice unusual behavior or interactions between a resident and a staff member, you should speak with the nursing home administrator immediately. If you suspect that your loved one is being abused, you should contact Mobley and Brown, LLP immediately to review your claim.
Concerned About Potential Maryland Nursing Home Neglect? Call Mobley and Brown, LLP
If you need help getting your loved one out of a dangerous situation or are concerned about Maryland nursing home neglect, contact Mobley and Brown, LLP today. Our experienced legal team will work with you to meet your needs. Call us now at (410) 385-0398 or toll-free at (833) 355-9897.
