Do you have a loved one currently living under the care of a nursing home facility? If this is the case, establishing the best possible care for them is obviously top priority. Elder Law and Nursing Home Attorneys help keep these plans in place while ensuring all parties involved are following all federal laws. These laws and attorneys also establish protection for your loved one during the event that something inappropriate or dangerous occurs.
I mention federal law specifically because, in situations where federal funding is provided to the nursing home facility, these laws must be followed. The federal law outlines minimum requirements in terms of staffing, caring for guests and how the facility is maintained. There are additional conditions for nursing home facilities involved with programs such as Medicaid and Medicare.
What can we do if these laws are not followed?
I’ve heard of a situation where a grandmother was poorly taken care of in a nursing home where her primary care physician referred to the family. The family trusted this physician’s recommendation, and did not perform any background checking on the facility or any of its staff members. Later on, one of the adult grandchildren realized she wasn’t being fed humanely (staff workers were mixing up the entire meal into one bowl and feeding it to her thinking she wouldn’t know any better).
What grounds did the adult grandchild have regarding nursing home law?
There are a number of options to consider, but don’t wait. Contact an Elder Law Lawyer, and a Nursing Home Lawyer (or Nursing Home Attorney, depending on how it’s named in your locale). Nursing home expenses are high as it is, and because of these costs you want to ensure no laws are being broken. This is your right, and you have protection for your loved ones in the nursing home facility.
If, once involving a lawyer and taking all the necessary steps involved, you are still unable to reach a resolution, make attempts to find another facility or location for your loved one to receive care. If you or a family member is able to take care of your loved during the interim, consider doing so in order to remove them from the premises as soon as possible. Why subject them to continued discomfort if unnecessary? If this isn’t possible, though (and it could be for a number of valid reasons), research a suitable transfer to another nursing home facility.
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