Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Philadelphia Pennsylvania
Families turn to nursing homes, assisted living and other long-term care facilities to give the elderly the care and medical attention they need. The last thing they expect is that there loved ones are abused, neglected, beaten and harassed by nursing home personnel. Many of these facilities provide excellent care, however, many fell below the acceptable standard of care. Some nursing homes lack properly trained personnel which often results in neglect of the nursing home residents. Neglected, abused, and threatened, nursing home residents may suffer physically and emotionally. Painful bedsores, broken bones, or even premature death can result from neglectful and outright abusive treatment.
Nursing homes and long-term care facilities that receive federal funds must comply with certain federal regulations and laws. These regulations and laws establish the type and quality of care that residents in these facilities must receive. First of all, the law requires nursing homes to promote and protect the rights of each resident and focuses on the resident's dignity and self-determination. If a nursing home fails to comply with the rules, it may be cited, and, if there is evidence of elder abuse in a nursing home, the resident and his or her family may sue the nursing home for negligence and sometimes, intentional conduct. The Lassen Law Firm, Pennsylvania nursing home abuse lawyers represents nursing home residents and their families in lawsuits against nursing homes, assisted living and other long-term care facilities. We represent victims of nursing home abuse occurring in any Pennsylvania nursing home, including:
- Allied Services Skilled Nursing Center
- Broomall Rehabilitation And Nursing Center
- Care Pavilion Nursing And Rehabilitation Center
- Claremont Nursing And Rehabilitation Center of Cumberland Co
- Cedarbrook Nursing Homes
- Colonial Manor Nursing Home
- Friendship Ridge
- Immaculate Mary Home
- Inglis House
- John J Kane Regional Center- Scott Township
- Neshaminy Manor Home
- St. Joseph's Manor
- Pocopson Home
- Parkhouse, Providence Pointe
- Philadelphia Nursing Home
- Phoebe Allentown Health Care Center
- Pleasant Acres Nursing & Rehabilitation Center
- St. Francis Country House
- Spring Creek Rehab & Health Care Center
The law governing nursing homes is called the Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987. It outlines nursing home residents' rights and establishes the appropriate standard of care long-term care facilities need to exercise. If you are a resident or have a loved one in a nursing home, it is important to know residents' rights provided by the Nursing Home Reform Act. In addition, in order to participate in Medicare or Medicaid, nursing homes must meet residents' rights requirements.
Nursing Home Residents' Rights
Nursing home residents are guaranteed certain rights under the law. Some of the most important rights of the elderly residing in a long-term care facility are:
Right to information: Residents have the right to be informed of services and their cost; the rules and regulations of the nursing home and contact information of important agencies. Residents have the right to be communicated to daily in their language and provided assistance for sensory impairments.
Right to participate in their own care. This includes receiving adequate and appropriate medical care and also the right to refuse care. Residents have the right to be involved in the planning of their care, should be notified of any changes in treatment or condition, and the right to review their medical records.
Right to make independent choices. This includes making independent decisions on what to wear and how to spend free time. Residents have a right to choose their own activities inside and outside the nursing home, participate in a resident council, and select their own physician. The nursing home must make reasonable accommodations of a resident's needs and preferences.
Right to privacy and confidentiality. This includes private and unrestricted communication with persons of their choice, private treatment and care of personal needs, and confidentiality regarding medical, personal, and financial affairs.
Right to dignity, respect, and freedom. Residents have the right to be treated with consideration, respect and dignity, to be free from abuse, both mental and physical, corporal punishment, involuntary seclusion, and physical and chemical restraints.
Right to security of possessions. Residents have the right to manage their own financial affairs and not being charged for services covered by Medicare and Medicaid. Residents have the right to file a complaint if the nursing home is managing their financial affairs in an abusive, neglectful, or inappropriate way.
Right to a 30-day notice of transfer. Residents have the right to be notified of transfer within 30 days. They also have the right to a safe transfer or discharge with sufficient preparation by the nursing home. Residents also have a right to remain in the nursing facility unless the transfer or discharge is deemed necessary to meet the resident's welfare, required to protect other residents and staff, or a facility charge has not been provided after reasonable notice.
Right to complain without fear of reprisal. Residents have the right to prompt efforts by the nursing home to resolve grievances.
Right to visits. A resident has the right to visits from their personal physician, representatives from the health department and ombudsman programs, and their relatives. Residents also have the right to reasonable visits by organizations or individuals providing health, social, legal, or other services.
If you believe that you or your parent, relative, friend has been neglected, abused or mistreated by the nursing home staff, please call the Lassen Law Firm, Pennsylvania elder abuse attorneys, to discuss your case confidentially. The Lassen Law Firm has helped many nursing home residents receive the care they deserve. We fight hard for your rights and your right to receive financial recovery if your rights have been violated.
Nursing Home Abuse Pennsylvania
When a person entrusts their parent or relative to a nursing home, the last thing they would expect is to have their loved one become a victim of nursing home abuse. Malnutrition, bed sores, medication errors, abuse and neglect are some of the federal health and safety violations that hurt nursing home patients in Pennsylvania.
There are about 40,000 complaints about the conditions in nursing homes in the United States each year. The Pennsylvania personal injury lawyers of the Lassen Law Firm handle numerous nursing home abuse and neglect cases each year.
Much of the neglect is due to lack of concern about the patients, indifference and carelessness. However, there is much direct abuse which includes acts of violence such as: pushing; shoving; hitting; shaking; and slapping.
Signs of abuse include: bruises; bumps; cuts; welts; sprains; fractured bones; punctures; and open wounds. Even more alarming is that sexual abuse of nursing home patients is quite common.
The Lassen Law Firm, Pennsylvania nursing home abuse lawyers, is a team of dedicated and caring lawyers whose goal is to ensure the rights of the elderly protected. Call the Lassen Law Firm now to see how we can help.
The Lassen Law Firm only deducts a 29% contingency fee, not the standard 45% like other firms. We serve ALL of Pennsylvania. We can sign you up over the phone and start working on your case today.
Stop Searching. Start Calling. 215-510-6755.
Authored by: Christian Lassen