Nursing home abuse and neglect are more common than many people realize. According to the World Health Organization, two of three nursing home and long-term facility staff members admit to committing abuse during the past year. When you place your loved one in a nursing home, you expect the facility to take care of your loved one. Instead, your loved one dies suddenly without a reasonable explanation, and you cannot get answers to your questions. What do you do?
Do Not Give Up Asking Questions
If you believe your loved one died because of neglect or nursing home abuse, file a complaint with the Louisiana Department of Health. You can also contact the police department, Louisiana Elderly Protective Services, Louisiana Long Term Care Ombudsman, and the Governor’s Office of Elderly Affairs.
Contact a New Orleans nursing home abuse attorney as soon as possible. An attorney can help you take additional steps to request an investigation into the death of your loved one. A lawyer can also investigate the matter and gather evidence to file a civil claim for wrongful death.
What Causes Wrongful Deaths in Nursing Homes?
Negligence, abuse, and intentional wrongdoing are often the causes of wrongful deaths in nursing homes. Examples of how nursing homes can be liable for the death of a resident include, but are not limited to:
- Failing to diagnose and treat infections
- Lack of fall prevention policies and adequate supervision
- Physical abuse of patients
- Failing to ensure that patients receive adequate nutrition and hydration (malnutrition and dehydration)
- Failing to assist patients with personal hygiene
- Using improper medical procedures and allow patients to live in unsanitary conditions, thereby increasing the risk of deadly infections
- Failing to give patients their medications or the correct medication/dose
- Failing to refer patients to the hospital or contact a doctor when the patients are ill or display symptoms of an illness
A nursing home, long-term care facility, and individuals can face civil lawsuits for wrongful death, nursing home abuse, and neglect. They may also face federal and state penalties, as well as criminal charges.
Why Should I File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit for Nursing Home Abuse?
The compensation you receive for a civil lawsuit related to nursing home abuse and wrongful death will not undo the pain and suffering your loved one and your family has experienced. However, you can help prevent another patient and family from going through the same experience.
Filing a wrongful death lawsuit exposes the abuse and neglect that resulted in your loved one’s death. It forces the facility and the individuals to be accountable for their actions. In some cases, it could result in the facility being shut down or forced into new ownership and/or management.
Contact a Louisiana Nursing Home Abuse Attorney for More Information
If you suspect your loved one is being neglected or abused in a nursing home, call Attorney Fred Olinde of The Olinde Firm to discuss your case. You can reach our office by calling (504) 587-1440 or 1-800-587-1889 now to schedule your free consultation with a nursing home abuse attorney in New Orleans.