Michigan Nursing Home Lawyers Discuss Abuse & Neglect
Over just 10 months, five residents of Connecticut nursing home choked to death, with three of these suffering from “severe cognitive impairments,” according to an article in Hartford Courant.
This indicates a problem with patient oversight. The paper mentions an incident last December that involved a dementia patient living at the Paradigm Healthcare Center in Norwalk. The patient choked after eating food left on an unattended lunch tray.
The patient, who was on a special puree diet, was found with “copious amounts” of food obstructing the airway. The patient died a week later from an anoxic brain injury, according to a state inspection report released last week. The Paradigm nursing home has had multiple instances of residents eating forbidden food, said the Courant. It submitted a correction plan to the state in February; it also was fined $1,230.
Unfortunately, these are just a few instances a widespread problem. The Courant recently documented 76 cases of developmentally disabled people in care facilities who died between 2004 and 2010. The causes: abuse, neglect, or medical error; 14 of the 76 were on special diets and choked to death after ingesting inappropriate food.
The treatment of residents and patients in Michigan’s residential Health care facilities should be of concern to all citizens. Those who are confined to nursing homes, recuperating in a home for the aged, or in need of adult foster care are among the most vulnerable and defenseless in our society.
Below is a list of ways you can help reduce the chance of subjecting your loved one to abuse and neglect from a careless nursing home.
- Visit frequently, at different times–don’t be predictable.
- Ask questions about care.
- Check for bedsores, unexplained bruises, and pain.
- Note the cleanliness of the residents and facility.
- Check for weight loss or dehydration.
- Keep a small journal for notes after visits.
- Take your camera. Each visit, have your photo taken with your loved one and date it.
- Report any suspected abuse
If you suspect your family member may be enduring abuse or neglect from the trusted nursing home that they reside in, but is too afraid or unable to speak up, then it is crucial that you report it immediately!
Our Michigan nursing home lawyers at Buckfire & Buckfire P.C. represent nursing home residents and their families in cases against skilled nursing care facilities and assisted living facilities. There are firm laws and protocols to protect the safety and well-being of these residents against abuse and neglect. Regrettably, many nursing home patients do not always receive suitable care and the results can be severe and are often even deadly. We help bring justice for nursing home patients who have suffered injuries and to their families who have lost a loved one due to neglect.
If you or a family member suffered from nursing home neglect and abuse, you should contact our Michigan nursing home abuse attorneys immediately. Call us now at (800) 606-1717 to speak with one of our experienced Michigan nursing home abuse lawyers about your case.
