Taos Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

Taos Nursing Home Abuse Attorney

Choosing to put a loved one in a nursing home is not an easy decision. Most of the time, it is one made from necessity and not desire. Many elderly citizens have specialized needs you may not be qualified to provide for them, and long-term care may be the only option. Choosing the right nursing home requires a great deal of trust, and finding out that your loved one is being mistreated or abused can be heartbreaking. A Tao nursing home abuse lawyer can help you.

An experienced nursing home abuse lawyer can help you hold the right people accountable for hurting your elderly loved one in the most vulnerable time of their lives. They can help you build a strong case for abuse, gather evidence that supports your claim, and seek compensatory damages for everything you and your loved one have been through because of abusive or neglectful behavior.

Statute of Limitations

When the workers of a nursing home are found to be abusing or neglecting the residents, either willfully or accidentally, it can be difficult to choose where the blame should be placed. Largely, it is placed on the nursing home itself, whose governing body should have been more aware of the facility’s daily operations. Failing to notice rampant abuse from employees is not an excuse. If you wish to report nursing home abuse in New Mexico, you can do so through the Health Care Authority.

If you are a victim of nursing home abuse yourself or are acting on behalf of a loved one who is, you can choose to take legal action against the nursing home and ensure the right people are held accountable for what’s happened. If you do that, it is vital to your case that you adhere to the state of New Mexico’s statute of limitations for personal injury cases, which include nursing home abuse cases. In most cases, the state will give you three years to act.

In those three years, you will need to establish grounds for your claim, develop a strong enough case, gather all the necessary evidence, consult with a nursing home abuse lawyer, and file a claim for compensatory damages. If you are not able to file your claim before three years have passed, then there is a strong chance your claim will be dismissed outright, and you won’t be able to pursue damages from your case anymore.

It can take more time than you might think to build a solid nursing home abuse case. You may want to get started as soon as you can. If you are concerned that your case isn’t strong enough, you should consider reaching out to a nursing home abuse lawyer so they can see what you have so far. You might have more than you think.

Different Forms of Nursing Home Abuse

Unfortunately, nursing home abuse can take many different forms, and all of them are either physically or psychologically scarring for the victim. This sort of abuse can be degrading, dehumanizing, insulting, and ultimately damaging for the victim. If you are worried that your loved one might be enduring abuse in their nursing home, do not hesitate to call the authorities and a lawyer.

Some of the common forms of nursing home abuse that occur:

• Physical abuse. Nursing home physical abuse happens when an orderly or another employee intentionally harms one of the elderly patients. This can include punching, kicking, physically restraining someone, pushing someone down, and other forms of physical violence. This can result in sometimes permanent damage to elderly victims, particularly sufferers of dementia.
• Neglect. Neglect is regrettably one of the more common forms of nursing home abuse. Neglect happens when patients are not given the proper care or are just ignored for long periods of time. When you ignore someone who cannot take proper care of themselves, the results can be physically and emotionally devastating.

Taos Nursing Home Abuse FAQs

Q: How Do I File a Complaint Against a Nursing Home in Taos?

A: If you wish to file a complaint against a nursing home in Taos, NM, you may want to reach out to the New Mexico Department of Health’s Division of Health Improvement. On their website, they have a toll-free phone number you can call to report nursing home abuse directly to an agent.

Q: What Is an Example of Neglect in a Nursing Home?

A: There are unfortunately many examples of neglect that take place in a nursing home. One such example might be failing to provide a patient with basic hygiene care. Many elderly nursing home residents are unable to take care of themselves, including cleaning themselves. They require an orderly to clean them up. If the orderly neglects their duties, the resident may be left in a state of discomfort and uncleanliness that can lead to illness and psychological damage.

Q: What Are the Signs of Elder Abuse in Nursing Homes?

A: There are many signs of elder abuse in nursing homes that you should watch out for if you are visiting your loved one. Signs of physical abuse include unexplained bruises or other injuries. Signs of emotional abuse include depression and anxiety. Signs of financial abuse include sudden changes in spending patterns or large withdrawals. Signs of sexual abuse include STDs and genital bruising.

Q: What Happens If a Nursing Assistant Is Accused of Abusing a Resident?

A: If a nursing assistant is accused of abusing one of the residents, they will most likely have to face an internal investigation conducted by the facility. If evidence is found that supports the claim, they will likely be terminated, and the authorities will be notified. They could lose their nursing license and face significant legal penalties.

Taos Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

The legal team at Berenson & Associates, PC understands the kind of legal help you will need to help a loved one with a case of nursing home abuse. We can help you build your case, gather evidence, and make sure you and your loved one’s interests are protected throughout the case. Contact us to speak with a team member about a consultation.