Albuquerque New Mexico Nursing Home Abuse Law Blog

Good nursing homes in New Mexico abide by a specific set of rules. These rules are similar to the regulations that dictate the conditions and behaviors of staff inside hospitals. 

Unfortunately, we at Harvey & Foote Law Firm find that some housing facilities do not follow these guidelines. If there is a problem that leads to an injury, the company running the home could be liable for damages. The complicated part is sometimes determining whether or not your facility is a nursing home in the first place.

New Mexico seniors who need a moderate level of assistance in their daily lives without the full time care of a nursing home may find a good place to live in an assisted living community. However, if you are concerned about your older loved one having quick access to a doctor in the event of an emergency, keep in mind that some communities do not have doctors on site.

Because assisted living communities are home to even frail residents, it is natural to think that such communities would have doctors available. However, Marketwatch points out that many assisted living facilities actually lack doctors or nurses. In reality, many living assisted facilities vary according to whether they have medical staff available and the kind of medical professionals in the community that are ready to respond to emergencies.

Losing a loved one is never easy. That would be especially true if your loss came as a result of someone else's neglect. Having someone you trust take actions or omit duties that led to the death of a family member: It is the exact type of thing you would never expect to happen to you. Unfortunately, you are at risk for this exact tragedy when do you put your aging parents or grandparents into New Mexico nursing homes.

It would be little consolation, but a successful wrongful death lawsuit could potentially help you handle some of the unexpected costs of such an event. To obtain monetary compensation for your loss, you would probably have to pursue one of two strategies, either persuading a court to rule in your favor or securing a settlement before a formal decision.

New Mexico dementia patients require a lot of care due to their declining memory and cognitive abilities. In many cases, nursing homes will use psychotropic drugs to help sedate and calm dementia patients. However, using these drugs is not appropriate for dementia patients, and as of the past decade, the Food and Drug Administration has required manufacturers to place warning labels on these drugs.

The Washington Post reported that nursing homes over the years have used these drugs to restrain or “discipline” dementia sufferers. The FDA, however, has required drug manufacturers to place the strongest possible warnings on psychotropic drugs to make it clear that their use on dementia patients is not advised. And while psychotropic drug usage has decreased in nursing homes has decreased, one in six nursing home patients still receive them without receiving an approved diagnosis.