Nursing home neglect is a serious issue that affects elderly nursing care facility residents across New Mexico. When neglect occurs, residents may not receive the medical treatment, daily assistance, or socialization necessary to remain healthy.
If you suspect your loved one is the victim of nursing home neglect in Santa Fe, contact Hunt Law Firm for a free consultation with one of our experienced and compassionate lawyers. We’ll help you get the care and treatment your loved one needs and explore your legal options for holding the nursing facility and staff financially accountable for the harm they caused.
Why Choose Hunt Law Firm
For nearly twenty years, lead attorney Lee Hunt has been providing comprehensive legal support to New Mexico residents and their families for their personal injury cases. Attorney Hunt treats every client with the care and compassion they deserve and gets to know them on a personal level.
Unlike some other firms that may try to get a quick settlement, our legal team prepares for trial from the start. While most legal cases settle before going to trial, this preparation gives us a leg up in settlement negotiations and means we have a head start if your case needs to go to trial.
What Is Nursing Home Neglect?
Nursing home neglect can take many forms, which can sometimes make it difficult for family members to identify. Common examples of nursing home neglect include failing to:
- Assist residents to bathe, dress, or feed themselves
- Assist mobility-impaired residents
- Provide adequate supervision for residents
- Have enough staff to handle medical emergencies
- Provide residents with the medications they need
- Seek medical treatment for injured residents
- Provide physical therapy to residents who need it
- Monitor residents’ medical conditions
- Allow residents to socialize with others
When nursing home residents are neglected, it can result in various types of injuries, including bed sores from lack of movement and broken bones due to falls. They may also receive inadequate medical care for new or existing injuries. In worst-case scenarios, neglect can even lead to wrongful death.
Also, not all injuries are physical. Nursing home residents may become depressed or anxious if they are left alone in their rooms for too long and can’t leave on their own due to mobility issues. This is why socialization is crucial.
How to Recognize the Signs of Neglect
When looking for signs of neglect, the first thing to do is simply ask your loved one about their treatment at the facility. Not everyone in a nursing home will be able to adequately explain the care they’ve received. However, if your loved one is able to, that’s always a good place to start.
Beyond asking them directly, you should also look for visible injuries. These may include new cuts, bruises, or more serious injuries caused by falls or bed sores caused by lying or sitting in one position for too long.
Additionally, if you notice a change in your loved one’s hygiene, that may indicate they’re not receiving the care they need. Have you noticed them wearing the same clothes multiple days in a row? Do they look and smell like they haven’t bathed? Are they dehydrated? Is their room dirty or cluttered? These can all be signs of neglect.
Finally, note any changes in your loved one’s behavior. If they seem depressed, anxious, overly tired, or distant, it may be a sign that they aren’t receiving the socialization they need.
Documenting a Loved One’s Neglect
There are several things you can do to document your loved one’s neglect, starting with taking photographs. If they have visible injuries or are living in a dangerous or messy room, photograph it so you have evidence.
You can also speak to other residents or staff members to find out if they know anything about the conditions your loved one is living in. Other residents may mention not having seen your loved one in a while or that they also haven’t received the care they need. Staff members may mention understaffing or other issues with the facility as a whole.
Finally, remember to write down everything you see or hear relating to your loved one’s care. Your notes can be vital in holding the nursing facility or staff liable for the harm they caused.
Steps to Take If You Suspect Nursing Home Neglect
Documenting the neglect your loved one has experienced is just one of several steps you should take to make sure they get the care they need and to strengthen your legal case.
You should also report the neglect to the facility manager. If the neglect is systemic, the facility manager may be able to enact changes to make sure all of the residents receive proper care. And if the neglect stems from a single caretaker not adequately performing their job, the manager may be able to get rid of them and hire someone better.
Further, reporting the facility’s neglect to the New Mexico Department of Health will trigger an investigation into its practices and the level of care it is providing to residents. And if your loved one is in immediate danger or requires medical care, you should call the police, and then call a nursing home neglect lawyer.
Contact Our Santa Fe Nursing Home Neglect Attorneys
The longer nursing home neglect goes on, the worse its effects on your loved one can become. It’s essential that you act quickly to prevent them from sustaining further physical or emotional injuries.
Contact Hunt Law Firm to speak with a highly qualified member of our legal team about your case. During your free initial consultation, we’ll review the evidence of neglect, go over your options, and walk you through the legal process so you know what to expect.
Don’t wait to get your loved one the help they need. Call us today.