Residents’ Rights in Denver Nursing Homes
Families often do a great deal of research and careful consideration before moving their loved one into a nursing home. You expect the institution’s staff to treat your beloved family member with respect and quality care.
Sadly, people in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and other long-term care homes are particularly vulnerable to abuse or neglect. Because of their age, declining health, or other conditions, nursing home residents may not be able to defend and protect themselves from harm or mistreatment.
If you suspect that your loved one suffered harm either due to deliberate abuse or negligent care, a skilled attorney who understands residents’ rights in Denver nursing homes is available to help.
Types of Abuse in Denver Long-Term Care Facilities
Unfortunately, many residents of assisted living facilities do not report incidents of abuse and neglect. The burden often falls on their family members to recognize signs of mistreatment by observing changes in the resident’s behavior or physical state. Examples of elder abuse in local nursing homes include:
- Neglect (i.e., malnutrition, dehydration, bedsores, poor hygiene)
- Medication errors (i.e., failing to administer a resident’s daily medication or giving them the wrong medication)
- Physical abuse (i.e., unexplained bruises, head injuries, broken bones, or evidence of excessive restraint)
- Emotional abuse or battering (i.e., sudden changes in a resident’s behavior or personality)
- Sexual abuse
- Financial exploitation
Nursing home residents deserve proper care and respect. A seasoned attorney in our area could investigate a case to determine whether the facility violated a resident’s rights.
Nursing Home Residents’ Rights Defined by Federal and State Law
Lawmakers have enacted several federal and state laws to protect the rights of nursing home residents. Under federal law, the Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987 mandates that residents of long-term care facilities receive proper care and treatment. State law also protects nursing home residents from neglect and abuse. The rights afforded to nursing home residents by federal and Colorado law include but are not limited to:
- To be treated with respect
- To not be abused, neglected, or exploited
- To participate in the decisions of their own treatment, which includes the right to refuse treatment
- To be offered all necessary physical and psychological treatments
- To have visitors at reasonable times
- To have privacy
- To control their own finances
- To report mistreatment or problems without fear of retribution or retaliation
Regardless of whether the resident is paying for their care through Medicare, nursing home insurance, or privately, the facility is obligated to treat them fairly and equitably. Unfortunately, nursing homes in Denver sometimes have problems with understaffing or poorly trained employees, which can lead to violations of residents’ rights.
Additionally, nursing homes may resist providing their residents with the care they need because the services may be costly. One of our Denver lawyers could look into a nursing home’s care protocol to see whether they violated a resident’s rights.
How to Protect a Resident’s Rights in a Denver Nursing Home
If you suspect that an assisted living facility is not treating your loved one properly, you should seek legal representation. A qualified attorney could investigate to see if the facility violated a Denver nursing home resident’s rights. Let our team help your loved one file a written grievance letter and pursue financial compensation for their injuries in a personal injury lawsuit. Call our firm to learn more about how we could help your family today.
