Nursing Home Negligence Lawyer
As our aging population grows, more of us must confront the prospect of long-term nursing care for ourselves, our parents and grandparents. Nursing homes should take into account the special needs of those with diverse and complex medical conditions such as dementia, heart trouble and mobility restrictions. When policies, procedures and staffing deviate from a professional standard in these environments, the fallout can be serious. There can be a significant risk of harm to victims, including emotional harm, injuries, infection, and even wrongful death.
At Will Davidson LLP, we are familiar with the laws protecting nursing home residents and can assist in holding a negligent nursing home accountable.
What is Nursing Home Negligence?
Nursing home negligence is considered a breach of duty or form of substandard care that results in harm to the patient of a nursing home facility. When a resident is neglected, he or she does not receive the proper medical, physical or emotional attention required from those who have a duty of care.
Types of nursing home neglect can include:
- Emotional or social neglect
- Personal hygiene neglect
- Basic needs neglect
- Medical neglect
There are often visible warning signs in nursing home negligence claims, such as:
- Unexplained weight loss, malnutrition, and dehydration
- Withdrawn elder behavior or unusual changes in behaviour
- Poor personal hygiene, including not being bathed, not receiving dental care, wearing dirty clothes
- Unsanitary conditions, including soiled bedding, dirty rooms, or bugs
- Injuries from falls and the absence of a fall prevention plan
- Lack of medical care, including failure to treat injuries or make necessary referrals
- Medication and prescription errors, including failure to provide prescribed medication
- Lack of supervision or insufficient supervision, such as failure to check on a resident, leaving a resident unattended in a dangerous situation or in a public place, or failure to prevent wandering
- A growing lack of friendly interaction with nursing home staff, and
- Environmental hazards, such as unsafe mobility equipment, unsafe furniture in the patient’s room, slippery floors, or poor lighting.
Protecting Your Loved Ones
If your loved one is in immediate danger, you may want to stay with him or her, enlist the help of family, or hire help to come in to ensure his or her safety. If you are the elder’s Power of Attorney for Personal Care solely or jointly with another family member, you may want to discuss the potential to relocate your loved one to a safer care facility as soon as possible.
Consult With a Nursing Home Negligence Lawyer
If you suspect an issue at the facility, you should consult with a nursing home negligence lawyer to discuss what you witnessed and to get assistance with the legal process. Your lawyer can file a nursing home negligence claim against the nursing home for damages. Your lawyer can also report on your behalf to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. It may be difficult to take legal action against the facility, but doing so should put an end to the mistreatment of your loved one and others who may be in the same situation.
Alongside their knowledge about the standards of care necessary in nursing home facilities across Ontario, our lawyers are also supported by extensive experience in the area of personal injury. Together, this experience provides a fair and balanced approach to reaching a resolution to your claim. If you have concerns about the treatment of a loved one or of yourself in a nursing home, contact a nursing home negligence lawyer at Will Davidson LLP today.
Schedule a free consultation with Managing Partner, Gary Will at our Oakville office, or speak to a personal injury lawyer or medical malpractice lawyer at any of our other locations for more information. By doing so, you will be assisting your loved one and can hold the responsible parties liable to prevent further cases of nursing home neglect.
With 10 offices across the province we have the expertise to assist you. We are familiar with the laws protecting nursing home residents and can assist in holding the facility accountable.
Contact us online or at 1-866-840-9002 today for a free, no obligation consultation.