Many people in New Mexico move their elderly or disabled loved ones to a nursing home in hopes that they will receive skilled care that keeps them safe, especially if they are experiencing memory issues. However, these relatives may also worry deeply about their loved ones’ treatment in a care facility, especially if they are unable to visit on a frequent basis. Nursing home residents may be particularly vulnerable to abuse or neglect, especially as they could have difficulty speaking about their experiences due to memory issues and other serious illnesses.
In one case, a worker at a care facility is facing charges for nursing home abuse after the licensed practical nurse is said to have grabbed a 91-year-old resident aggressively, forcing her into her wheelchair and pushing her around so that she was unable to move. The man allegedly held the elderly woman by the back of the neck to force her face down, and at one point, her face struck a desk, leaving her forehead injured. The worker placed a bandage over the cut, but fellow employees were suspicious of the injury the following day. As a result, they reviewed security camera footage that captured the entire incident on tape.
The worker was removed from the job, and fellow employees called police to report the abuse. The nurse involved was arrested and accused of abuse of a vulnerable adult. He had only been working at the home for three weeks at the time of the incident, and the facility’s operators said that no problems had been discovered in a background check.
This kind of incident may be a real-life nightmare for relatives of loved ones in a nursing home. Victims of nursing home neglect and abuse or their family members may consult with an attorney about their options to pursue compensation for injuries.
