Wagoner County Nursing Home Abuse is serious and much more common than people think. In May of 2017, a Vietnam Veteran was found dead in his Talihina Nursing Home, The Talihina Veteran’s Center. The man choked on a 2-foot long trash bag. Family members are in grief and shock after receiving the autopsy report. In
this same nursing home in October of 2016, another resident was found with maggots in his body while he was still alive. He later died from sepsis. This type of occurrence is completely unacceptable. Families put their loved ones in nursing homes to have adequate care and peace of mind that it is dignified care. Nursing home abuse is punishable by law. If you or your loved one is suffering nursing home abuse you have legal reprieves.
Wagoner County Nursing Home Abuse; What to do When You Suspect It
Close to 25,000 nursing home abuse incidents occur each year in Oklahoma. The proper care of a nursing home may vary between homes, but the basics stay the same. These are things like proper administration of medication, treating patients with dignity and respect, keeping patients fed and clean, etc. If these basic needs are not met, you need to take action.
Step 1: Speak with the charge nurse, or the nurse in charge of the staff.
Step 2: Ask to see medical records. When reviewing the records, make thorough notes. You will find any notes here regarding all medical treatment. If there is an injury on your loved one that is not listed in the medical report, this is a problem.
Step 3: Contact an attorney if you feel your loved one is facing abuse.
Legal Consequences for Nursing Home Abuse
Oklahoma has a set of laws under 63 Okl.St.Ann. § 1-1918 that is the “Nursing Home Care Act”. This requires that every resident of a nursing home be safe from neglect and/or abuse, mental or physical. Any form of elder abuse is at first a misdemeanor. So the staff who know about and perpetrate the abuse are subject to a month jail time and fines reaching $300. Consequences increase under the law if injuries occur. These quickly reach felony status.
If the staff intentionally, or even recklessly hurts your loved one then you may also consider suing for civil damages. These are typically a form of punitive damages that can reach into the thousands. This money can be a ticket for your loved one to live in a different home that has proper care and oversight.
Read this related injury law article / Elder abuse attorneys in Wagoner County
Help With Wagoner County Nursing Home Abuse
Our nursing home abuse attorneys are no strangers to having elderly loved ones in their lives. We understand the emotional decision it can be to place a loved one in the care of another. When this trust is violated, we know that justice must take its course. Let us help you navigate the courts to get justice for your loved one. Nobody deserves abuse. Our first consultation is free 918.283.7394.
