Putting a loved one inside a nursing home often involved careful consideration of selecting the right facility. It can be an emotional decision to put a loved one in a nursing home, but unfortunately, recent research indicates that nursing home abuse in Texas is on the rise.
There are more than 1,200 long-term care centers located throughout Texas, and up to one quarter of them have been cited for serious standard deficiencies. Nursing home abuse can take numerous forms, all of which endanger residents.
Nursing home abuse in Texas endangers residents and also leads to problems for family members who may not even realize that a loved one is suffering until it is too late. Loved ones with cognitive issues or who have developed a fear of the staff members involved in nursing home abuse in Texas, may make it difficult for family members to realize what is happening behind closed doors.
Although there are strict laws on the books designed to prevent nursing home abuse in Texas, a number of recent high-profile cases have illustrated the severity of the problem in the Lone Star State.
A 90-year-old resident of a nursing home in Austin, accused an employee of abuse back in July, and several months before that, the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services told a news station they were investigating a video of nursing home abuse that was uploaded onto Snapchat.
Nursing Home Abuse in Texas Target of Multiple Reports
An AARP report released in January entitled “Intolerable Care” illustrates the number of problems with nursing home abuse in Texas. According to the report, Texas’ quality for nursing homes is extremely poor and therefore many residents are facing unnecessary safety and health risks. Allegations of nursing home abuse in Texas may be brought forward by a loved one within the facility, or by family members who have noticed changes in that person’s physical condition or personality.
Unfortunately, claims that nurses and other staff members are overworked and are trained to cover up allegations of maltreatment, have also emerged. Patients may be scared to speak out due to fear of retaliation. According to federal records however, facilities within Texas have a track record of isolation, maltreatment and abuse, in addition to being accused of failing to provide competent and compassionate care.
Residents who have suffered nursing home abuse in Texas may have grounds to pursue a legal claim to recover compensation. This should only be handled by an experienced law firm. If you suspect that your loved one has recently been involved in an episode of nursing home abuse, speaking up could help to protect your loved one, and to stop this cycle of mistreatment against other residents as well.
If you’ve noticed that your loved one has unexplained injuries such as falls, or is uncomfortable around particular staff members, you may wish to initiate an investigation into nursing home abuse. Talk to the lawyers at McDonald Worley to learn more, the case evaluation is FREE.