Baltimore Nursing Home Negligence Lawyers
Protecting the rights of our elders who have suffered injuries due to negligence throughout Maryland
When an elderly person becomes too sick or too frail to care for their own daily needs, families sometimes have no choice but to place them in a nursing home so that their needs can be attended to. With the rapid aging of the population, nursing homes are becoming crowded and the staff's time and attention is being spread too thin. Nursing home neglect occurs when the quality of care that residents receive is sub-standard, and the resident suffers injury or harm because of the neglect.
The legal team at Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A., has seen far too many cases where an elderly patient suffered serious injury due to neglect on the part of the administration and staff who have been paid to care for them. We investigate your suspicions of neglect, and we do not charge you any attorney fees until we have recovered compensation for you.
Common types of nursing home neglect cases
Nursing home neglect can occur in many forms, and some of the types of injuries that result from neglect can include:
- Dehydration
- Malnutrition
- Bed sores
- Wandering away from the facility
- Prescription errors (over and under medication)
- Poor hygiene
- Infections
It is quite difficult to get accurate numbers on nursing home neglect and elder neglect because of rampant underreporting. The elderly victim feels vulnerable because the people who are neglecting them are the people who are responsible for their care and they may fear reprisals. These incidents are also underreported because others with whom the elder comes in contact do not know how to identify the signs of neglect and abuse.
Signs of nursing home neglect
It can be very challenging to discern the signs of nursing home negligence in a frail or sickly elderly person. One of the best ways to be able to tell if your loved one is being properly cared for is to visit them as often as possible. When you are used to seeing them when they look well and strong, you will be able to tell when something is awry. Some of the warning signs of nursing home neglect include:
- The presence of bedsores
- Recent, sudden weight loss
- Unusual changes in behavior
- Withdrawn
- Dehydration
- Diminishing social interaction with friends and staff
When you enter their room is it clean? Does it smell fresh? Is the lighting adequate? Is your loved one always alone? Do they look well cared for or disheveled? You are their best advocate and if you do not notice the changes in your loved one that could signal neglect, they may continue to go unnoticed.
How does nursing home neglect occur in Baltimore?
There are countless reasons why nursing home neglect occurs. Nursing homes have an obligation to provide quality are for their residents as they receive funding from the federal government that is contingent on their meeting certain quality standards. Regardless of the safeguards in place, nursing home facilities still fall short. Here are some examples of situations that could give rise to situations where elder abuse can occur:
Nursing home administrators being more mindful of revenues than they are of the quality of patient care. They violate mandated staffing levels which means that residents do not receive the level of care and attention that they need in order to thrive.
- Inadequate vetting of nursing home staff. When nursing home administrators fail to conduct thorough background investigations before they hire staff members who may have criminal backgrounds they are neglecting the safety of the residents in their care.
- Insufficient training of nursing home staff. Inadequate supervision. If an elderly resident suffers an injury that could have been prevented with better staff training or more close supervision of staff, it can leave the nursing home open to negligence lawsuits.
- Not compliant with mandated staffing levels. Nursing home administrators can save money and increase profits by not keeping staffing levels up to the federal requirements. If a resident is neglected because of improper staffing ratios that may also be grounds for legal action.
Reporting nursing home neglect in Baltimore
In the same way that your report suspicious activity when you are riding a MARC train or on an MTA bus, when it comes to nursing home neglect, the same motto applies: "If you see something, say something." The only way the shameful behavior of nursing home abuse can continue is if people keep silent about it. You can call the Maryland Elder Abuse Hotline 1-800-917-7383, or you can contact your local Long-term-care Ombudsman, who are advocates for the elderly.
At Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A., we are committed to protecting your rights when you or a loved one has suffered an injury due to neglect or abuse at the hands of nursing home staff.
Protecting the rights of elderly victims in nursing homes and long-term care facilities in Baltimore
The nursing home negligence attorneys at Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A. provide comprehensive representation to injury victims in Baltimore and throughout Maryland. With multiple offices located throughout the state, we are never far away when you need us the most. If your loved one has suffered abuse or neglect in a nursing home in Baltimore, we want to help you help them by fighting on their behalf. Please call 410-730-7737 or fill out our contact form to learn what we can do for you. Our Baltimore office is conveniently located a few steps from the Inner Harbor.