Albuquerque New Mexico Nursing Home Abuse Law Blog

Many residents of New Mexico are just like you, having to make the tough decision of putting a loved one in a nursing home. You trust that they will be taken care of and that their needs will be met. However, that isn't always the case.

FindLaw takes a look at both abuse and neglect in a nursing home. Today we'll focus on neglect, which differs in several ways from what is typically considered abuse. While abuse is the active mistreatment in verbal, emotional or physical ways of the residents at an establishment, neglect can be harder to pin down.

When your loved one must go to live in a New Mexico nursing home, it is a huge change for everyone involved. You probably believe that this move is the best thing for your loved one. It will keep him or her safer and ensure he or she gets the care needed. However, nursing home abuse is a problem of which you must be aware. One way you might be able to help ensure your loved one does not become a victim of abuse, according to the Center of Excellence on Elder Abuse & Neglect, is to stay connected.

Staying connected just means staying active in your loved one's life. Check in often. Call and talk to him or her every single day. Be involved in his or her care decisions. Make sure you get to know the people who care for your loved one on a daily basis. Do not be afraid to ask questions. These actions can help deter abusers and also enable your loved one to feel as if he or she can speak up if something does occur.

When you leave your loved one in a New Mexico nursing home, you want to feel confident that someone is looking out for him or her and making efforts to reduce any hazards that could potentially lead to injury. Regrettably, however, today’s older Americans are falling and injuring themselves at alarming rates, and many residents who suffer serious falls live in nursing home or assisted living facility environments. At the Harvey & Foote Law Firm, we understand that when older people fall, serious injuries often result, and we have helped many people who suffered injury or hardship because of nursing home negligence pursue appropriate recourse.

The National Council on Aging reports that falls have become so common among older Americans that they are now the leading cause of fatal injury and hospital admissions for adults ages 65 and older. Furthermore, an older American dies because of a fall every 19 minutes in America, accounting for more than 27,000 deaths each year.

Assisted-living facilities are notorious for the neglect of their elderly patients. Numerous stories have come to light about the blatant mistreatment of senior citizens in American institutions. These reports naturally may have you worried about the well-being of your parent. On the other hand, perhaps you believe your loved one is safe because nothing as severe as outright physical abuse has occurred.

However, there are additional dangers your parent may face. These less noticeable risks have just as much impact on the safety and care of your aging loved one. Find out if the facility responsible for your mother or father is committing one of these common violations.