When you placed a loved one in a New Mexico nursing home, it was probably after you gave it careful consideration and did extensive research regarding facilities. It's not easy to make the choice to place someone you love under the supervision of someone else, but you trust that he or she will receive quality care. Unfortunately, that is not always the case.
Financial exploitation in nursing homes is unacceptable
Nursing homes may warrant greater scrutiny
A federal hearing about nursing homes has led to statements from both the health care industry and patient advocates. Advocates are interested in making sure that there is greater awareness of what happens to both patients and care workers in nursing facilities across the country. According to the CEO of the American Health Care Association, patient care in New Mexico and elsewhere has improved dramatically since 2011.
Types of damages potentially recoverable for nursing home abuse
Residents of nursing homes in New Mexico depend on the facilities to provide adequate care and treat them with dignity. Violations of these expectations can inflict serious physical and emotional injuries both on the victims and their relatives. The law recognizes the betrayal that victims of nursing home abuse have suffered and could enable the collection of compensation for damages arising from a variety of factors. People who need to hold a nursing facility accountable must gather as much evidence as possible about what happened to improve the likelihood of gaining a settlement.
Federal agency to flag nursing home abuse
New Mexico families may struggle with choosing a care facility when they are no longer able to care for elderly loved ones at home. They may worry that if they make the wrong choice, their elder relatives could face neglect, abuse and even a shortened lifespan. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Studies is introducing an informative system that is designed to provide additional information to families researching care homes. The agency runs a website for consumers to compare nursing homes. On the listing page, CMS will place a small red icon near the names of facilities where there have been reports of exploitation, abuse or neglect.
