Nursing homes have a reputation for providing substandard care. Families trust nursing homes to provide compassionate, high-quality care for their loved ones. Unfortunately, many nursing homes fall short of the standard of care expected from skilled and long-term care facilities.
Residents and family members often complain about the care in Nevada nursing homes. The complaints vary from the care patients receive to the quality of the food served. Some complaints about nursing homes can result in injuries and life-threatening situations.
Understanding the common complaints received about Nevada nursing homes can help relatives watch for signs of elder abuse and neglect. If you suspect abuse or neglect, it is important to contact a nursing home abuse lawyer to protect your loved one’s rights. Three of the top complaints about nursing homes in Las Vegas, NV, include:
Neglect
Neglect in a nursing home can take many forms. It is a type of elder abuse that includes:
- Slow response times when residents need assistance, which could lead to bed sores and falls
- Failing to provide adequate hygiene, including changing clothing/bedding and assisting residents with bathing and grooming
- Depriving residents of food and water, leading to dehydration and malnutrition
- Not offering activities to stimulate residents to help them maintain independence, mental well-being, and physical health
- Willfully abandoning patients by ignoring and/or isolating them
- Failing to provide the medical care residents need can lead to severe conditions and death
Common reasons for neglect include understaffing, inadequate staff supervision, and negligent hiring policies. In some cases, a staff member intentionally neglects a patient. The staff member may not like the patient or want to deal with the patient’s specific needs. Regardless of the reason, neglect is inexcusable in a nursing home.
Elopement
Nursing home elopement occurs when a nursing home resident leaves the facility unattended. Reasons for elopement include:
- Lack of safety procedures and protocols
- Understaffing
- Failing to have locks and alarms on all doors and windows
- Failure to adequately supervise residents
- Lack of video surveillance at exits and doors
- Overmedicating patients, causing confusion
Nursing home elopement is extremely dangerous. A patient may wander into traffic, become the victim of assault, or be injured. A patient who becomes lost could die from exposure, dehydration, or lack of medications.
Lack of Socialization
Being admitted to a nursing home can be frightening for a patient. They may become depressed or suicidal. Staff members must monitor patients for signs of anxiety, depression, and self-harm.
One way to combat this problem is through adequate social interaction. Providing activities for patients to interact with one another can reduce feelings of loneliness and depression. It improves well-being and overall health.
Other Common Complaints About Nursing Homes in Nevada
Residents and family members have other complaints about nursing homes and long-term care facilities. Those complaints include, but are not limited to:
- Sleep deprivation
- Harassment by other residents
- Unappealing food selections
- Spread of contagious infections
- Abuse, including verbal, physical, and sexual
- Financial exploitation
- Cramped living quarters
- Theft of personal items
- Restricted visiting hours
It is common for nursing home residents to have some complaints about their living conditions. However, complaints could be an indication of nursing home abuse or neglect. Families should pay close attention to the conditions in the facility and to the complaints by their loved ones. If they believe their loved ones are being abused or neglected in a nursing home, they should report the abuse immediately.
How to File Complaints About Nursing Homes in Nevada
You can report abuse and neglect in nursing homes in several ways. You can file a complaint online with the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services. You can also call the complaint intake line or fax a complaint to the DHHS office. If you believe your loved one needs emergency care or is in imminent danger, call 911 to report the abuse to the police.
You may also consider filing a lawsuit against the nursing home and the people responsible for the abuse or neglect. A civil claim can hold the responsible parties financially liable for the harm your loved one sustains.
What Damages Can I Recover for a Nursing Home Lawsuit in Las Vegas, NV?
When you sue a nursing home for abuse or neglect, you must prove that that nursing home breached its duty of care, and the breach of care caused your loved one’s injuries. Then, you can demand damages for economic and non-economic damages. Examples of the damages in a nursing home abuse case include:
- The cost of medical treatment for injuries and conditions caused by the abuse or neglect
- Rehabilitative therapy, including occupational and physical therapy
- Emotional distress and mental anguish
- The cost of relocating to a safe facility
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Psychological treatment and counseling
- Pain and suffering
- Diminished quality of life and loss of enjoyment of life
If your loved one died because of nursing home neglect or abuse, you could seek damages by filing a wrongful death claim. The wrongful death claim holds the parties responsible for your family member’s death. While a monetary award does not ease your grief, it can help deter the nursing home and others from engaging in similar conduct.
What Is the Deadline to File a Lawsuit for Nursing Home Abuse in Nevada?
Nevada has a two-year statute of limitations for most personal injury lawsuits. Generally, the time begins from the date of the injury. If the victim dies as a result of their injury, the deadline begins from the date of death.
Missing the filing deadline for a nursing home lawsuit means that you could lose your right to seek justice for your loved one and your family. Exceptions exist to the statute of limitations. Therefore, speaking with an attorney as soon as possible is best.
If you have questions about nursing home abuse and neglect, contact a Las Vegas nursing home abuse lawyer.
Contact Our Las Vegas Personal Injury Law Firm For Help Today
If you’ve been injured in Las Vegas, NV, and need legal help contact our Las Vegas personal injury attorneys at De Castroverde Accident & Injury Lawyers to schedule a free case evaluation today.
De Castroverde Accident & Injury Lawyers – Las Vegas Office
1149 S Maryland Pkwy, Las Vegas, NV. 89104
(702) 222-9999
De Castroverde Accident & Injury Lawyers – Summerlin Office
410 S Rampart Blvd, Ste 480 Las Vegas, NV. 89145
(702) 297-6373
De Castroverde Accident & Injury Lawyers – Henderson Office
9555 S Eastern Ave, Las Vegas, NV. 89123
(702) 997-4264
