What Should You Do If You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse in AL?
When you place a loved one in a nursing home, you trust the facility to provide the attentive and compassionate care that your family member needs and deserves. Unfortunately, that trust can be broken when you discover that your loved one has been the victim of abuse or neglect. If you suspect that someone you love has been the victim of nursing home abuse, let us familiarize you with what to do to protect your loved one’s safety and interests.
At Gartlan Injury Law, our dedicated Alabama nursing home abuse attorneys serve as advocates for families that have a loved one that has experienced harm in a nursing home. We have a proven record of taking on powerful corporations, big insurance companies, and nursing home companies that put profits ahead of patient safety and security.
Contact our firm today to discuss your concerns with a knowledgeable and compassionate Alabama nursing home abuse lawyer. We offer a free consultation to review the details of the situation and discuss your legal rights. If we believe that you have a valid nursing home neglect or abuse case, we will explain how our firm can help you protect your loved one’s safety. We take aggressive action to protect victims of nursing home abuse.
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Report Abuse to the Alabama Department of Public Health
If you believe that a nursing home resident is facing immediate danger, contact local law enforcement and report your concerns. Otherwise, you should first report your concerns to the nursing home management If you suspect your loved one is being mistreated or neglected. This puts your concerns on record.
If the nursing home administrator does not address your concerns satisfactorily, then you may file a report with the Alabama Department of Public Health.
You can file a complaint against a nursing home online at the DPH’s website, or you can call the ElderCare Hotline at 1-800-356-9596. Alternatively, you can file a written complaint by emailing NHComplaints@adph.state.al.us or mailing your complaint to ATTN: Complaint Unit, Alabama Department of Public Health, Bureau of Health Provider Standards, 201 Monroe Street, Suite 700, Montgomery, AL 36130-3017.
Complaints against assisted living facilities can be directed to ALFComplaints@adph.state.al.us or ATTN: ALF Complaint Unit, Alabama Department of Public Health, Bureau of Health Provider Standards, 201 Monroe Street, Suite 700, Montgomery, AL 36130-3017, or the assisted living facility complaint hotline at 1-866-873-0366.
You should also report your suspicions to the Alabama Department of Senior Services. Like all other states, the ADSS operates an ombudsman program for individuals in long-term care facilities such as nursing homes. The ombudsman can investigate and help resolve abuse and neglect complaints, educate residents’ families about their loved ones’ rights, and take other necessary actions to ensure quality care.
Both the Alabama Department of Public Health and the Department of Senior Services investigate nursing home abuse and neglect complaints and take appropriate actions when abuse or neglect is confirmed. That might include helping your family move your loved one to a new facility if necessary and initiating regulatory enforcement actions against the nursing home facility where appropriate.
Document Everything as Soon as Possible
Even before you report your suspicions of nursing home abuse or neglect to the authorities, you should document everything that has caused you to believe that your one loved one has suffered abuse or neglect. Keep a file with photocopies and photographs of anything relevant.
The common signs of nursing home abuse and neglect include:
- Bedsores (pressure ulcers)
- Recurring infections
- Bruises, scratches, or cuts
- Bone fractures
- Unexplained injuries or trips to the emergency room
- Multiple injuries in various stages of healing
- Dehydration
- Malnutrition
- Unusual or sudden weight gain or loss
- Poor personal hygiene
- Soiled clothing or bedding
- General lack of cleaning and maintenance in the nursing home facility
- Over-medicating
- Failure to administer prescribed medication
- New sexually transmitted infections
- Sudden loss of interest in activities
- Unusual behavioral changes, such as agitation or withdrawal
- Engaging in soothing behaviors like rocking or mumbling
- Fear of being touched
- Reluctance to speak in the presence of nursing home staff
- Fear of being left alone at the nursing home facility
- Anxiety in the presence of nursing home staff
While some cuts and bruises may result from accidents, they can also indicate abuse or neglect. Make a note of when you first notice these signs and how long they last. You should also record any statements from the resident that indicate that they have suffered from abuse or neglect at the hands of staff.
Contact an Experienced Alabama Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
If you have notified the nursing home management of your concerns and not received satisfactory answers to your questions, then contact an experienced Alabama nursing home abuse lawyer at Gartlan Injury Law. Our law firm can serve as an important advocate on behalf of your loved one’s safety and rights after suspected abuse or neglect.
We can help you with:
- Removing your loved one from a nursing home facility that was exposing your loved one to neglect or abuse
- Helping your family to place your loved one in a temporary safe situation or in a new facility
- Assisting you with preparing official complaint forms to file with the state
- Filing a claim for compensation on behalf of your loved one and your family to obtain a financial recovery for the injuries and harm your loved one has suffered
- Pursuing fair and full compensation through settlement or, if necessary, at trial
How Long Do I Have to File a Nursing Home Abuse Lawsuit in Alabama?
If you suspect someone you love has been the victim of abuse or neglect by a nursing home or assisted living facility, call or contact the Alabama nursing home abuse lawyers at Gartlan Injury Law today for a free, confidential consultation. You can speak with an experienced attorney about your concerns and learn more about your family’s legal rights and options. Let us help you protect your loved one and others who might be impacted by abuse or neglect. We will hold the proper parties responsible for your loved ones injuries in a nursing home. Call us now.
Aaron Gartlan is a graduate of Troy University and the Thomas Goode Jones School of Law who focuses his practice exclusively on representing those injured by the wrongdoing of others. He is member of the National Trial Lawyers Association’s Top 100 Trial Lawyers, Million Dollar Advocates Forum and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. In addition to his legal practice, Aaron teaches Business Law as an adjunct instructor at Troy University’s Sorrell College of Business and serves as a field artillery sergeant in the Alabama National Guard.
