Everyone who has seen a parent or grandparent move into a New Mexico nursing home hopes that his or her loved one will receive the best care possible. In most cases nursing home residents are well cared for. Sometimes, however, they are neglected and abused. As more and more baby boomers enter their golden years, instances of nursing home neglect will only become more prevalent.
At the Harvey & Foote Law Firm, we have represented the victims of nursing home neglect and their families in a wide variety of cases. Fortunately, the law is on the side of nursing home neglect victims, and these individuals can seek financial restitution for the injuries and damages they have suffered. However, before victims can obtain restitution and successfully hold negligent nursing homes and abusive staff accountable, the nursing home neglect must be proved in court.
As with other types of personal injury lawsuits, during the litigation of a nursing home neglect case, it will be necessary to gather a great deal of evidence to prove the victim’s case. Evidence gathered will include medical records pertaining to the injuries suffered by the abuse victim. It will also include eyewitness testimony, both from the victim, other residents of the facility, family members of the victim and employees of the facility. If necessary, expert witnesses may also be called in to evaluate medical evidence and offer their professional opinion in support of the plaintiff’s claims.
If we, as a community, hope to fight the problem of nursing home neglect, we must be diligent to watch for any signs of abuse in our loved ones who are being cared for at New Mexico nursing homes. Signs of neglect and abuse may include bed sores, bruises, sudden loss of weight and complaints about staff members and poor services received. The more nursing home neglect cases that are pursued in court, the more likely lawmakers will be to increase the authority of regulators to police and prevent such behavior.
