HAVE YOU OBSERVED NURSING HOME NEGLECT?

Not enough staff… pressure sores… injuries… fractured bones … bruises … improper medication or restraints … inadequate medical care … improper supervision for residents with dementia and Alzheimer’s … as well as violations of the Louisiana Nursing Home Resident’s Bill of Rights?
      Neglect and abuse in Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF) and other long term acute care facilities affect many residents who feel helpless to speak up or take action.

YOU MAY HAVE A LEGAL CLAIM

If you believe that an incident or pattern of neglect or abuse has resulted in injuries, emotional trauma and possibly death, you may have a legal claim against the nursing home and the medical providers involved.

      Howard & Reed has litigated many cases of abuse and neglect in Louisiana, holding nursing home owners, administrators and staff as well as medical providers responsible for their actions or inaction.

      Contact Howard & Reed to discuss legal action and possible compensation if you recognize a disturbing incident or pattern of abuse such as these:

Inadequate staffing and neglect of residents

Improper supervision of violent residents or abusive staff

Medication errors

Lack of clean and hygienic rooms, bathing facilities and restrooms

Inadequate nutrition, food preparation, lack of special diets and hydration

Insufficient stimulation and physical rehabilitation for residents resulting in loss of function and quality of life

Injuries, fractures, bruises, depression, social isolation and extreme weight loss.

Failure to control known violent or aggressive residents that pose a danger to themselves and others

NURSING HOME RESIDENTS'
BILL OF RIGHTS

The Louisiana Nursing Home Residents’ bill of rightsR.S. 40:2010.8 provides the criteria that a facility must follow regarding residents. Violations may be pursued by filing a civil law suit. These are some common violations:

Be free from mental and physical abuse and from physical and chemical restraints, except when authorized by a physician for a specified and limited time, and applied by a licensed nurse. Restraints should not be used in lieu of staff supervision, convenience or punishment.

To be transferred or discharged if needs cannot be met in the facility; health has improved so services are no longer needed; safety and health of other residents are endangered; lack of payment within a reasonable time; or the facility ceases to operate.

The facility must ensure that the transfer or discharge is safe and orderly, with resident, representative or family member consulted on choosing another facility if one is required.

Prompt response to all reasonable requests and inquiries.

Withhold physician visitation payment if the physician did not examine the resident.

Refuse to serve as a medical research subject without jeopardizing appropriate medical care.

Retire and rise as requested if it does not disturb others or meal schedules.

To have any significant change in his health status immediately reported to the resident, representative or family member as soon as the change is known to staff.

You will not want to stand by and allow abuse to continue. We are committed to the vigorous pursuit of damages for improper nursing home treatment and realize the urgency of these cases. Contact Shawn Reed.