When you make the decision to place a loved one in a New Mexico nursing facility, you trusted that the home would provide quality care and the right type of support. Maybe you made your choice based on the recommendation of a friend or you did months of research, but either way, you felt confident you’d found the right place.
It can be devastating to learn that your loved one experienced harm in his or her nursing home. Nursing home abuse in the form of negligent care is a serious problem. If you suspect that your loved one experienced harmful treatment or you have evidence of wrongdoing, you have the right to pursue justice on his or her behalf. With the right help, it is possible to hold liable parties accountable and pursue appropriate compensation for your family member.
Who is responsible?
Nursing home abuse can come in many forms. While it is possible your loved one experienced physical harm, it is also possible he or she suffered emotional abuse, neglect, medical abuse, financial abuse or something else. The scars from this type of mistreatment are not always visible, but they can last a lifetime. An investigation into the practices of the nursing home can determine if further civil or criminal legal action is necessary.
It is not always easy to determine if you have a valid claim against the nursing home for negligence. You will need to have evidence of at least one of the following types of negligent care:
- Negligent hiring of trained and capable employees
- Negligent care and personal supervision of residents
- Negligent maintenance and care of the nursing home facility
- Negligent care of equipment used in the facility
A nursing home facility owes its patients a duty of care. Breaching that duty in any way, whether it’s through direct physical abuse or negligence, is grounds for legal action. An in-depth look at your loved one’s situation may reveal that he or she is the victim of a form of nursing home abuse.
Take action
You may feel incensed or even helpless to learn that your loved one did not receive proper treatment or care in his or her nursing home. At this point, you will find it beneficial to seek guidance from an experienced attorney regarding your legal options. You may have valid grounds to move forward with a lawsuit, but you do not have to take legal action on your own.