When your elderly loved one can no longer take care of themselves within their own homes, or when you can no longer house them and take care of them in your home, you likely will come to the decision with them to move them into a nursing home. This gives the around-the-clock care and attention that they need while allowing them to maintain the independence that they want. Unfortunately, long-term care facilities don’t always treat residents properly.
If a staff member or fellow resident harms your loved one and physically, emotionally, or financially abuses them, then you could use the help of our Chandler, AZ nursing home abuse lawyer. We’ll be able to represent your elderly family member and stand up for their rights. That way, you can get justice for their mistreatment. We’ll handle the legal side of things so that you can focus on their recovery and finding a safer facility.
Ratings of Nursing Homes in Chandler, AZ
Considering the different facilities that your loved one could live in can be a daunting task. You’re determining where they’ll spend all their time and the level of care that they’ll receive. Of course, you do your best to pick a highly-rated nursing home so that they get great treatment and have a high quality of life, but sometimes those ratings don’t matter.
Or you could unknowingly have chosen a facility that has low ratings, or even has had reported abuse. It’s never too late to remove your loved one from an abusive long-term care facility—as soon as you suspect the abuse or neglect, you should take action and get them to safety. However, there are ways you can predict which facilities mistreat their residents and avoid placing your loved ones there.
Medicare has a helpful tool on their website that gives the ratings of nursing homes in your area so that you can make an informed choice. In the Chandler area, there are 15 nursing homes in the 10-mile radius of the city. Of these facilities, these are the ratings received:
- 6 much above average
- 3 above average
- 2 average
- 2 below average
- 2 much below average
Of those ratings, one nursing home has been reported as being cited for potential issues relating to abuse of their residents. The other facilities have not been flagged for abuse, even those rated poorly, but that doesn’t mean that abuse doesn’t happen there. While this tool helps you make decisions and see which facilities have been problems for other people, that doesn’t mean that your loved one will have a perfect experience at a highly rated facility.
It’s important to pay attention to how your loved one is treated at their nursing home, regardless of how it’s rated on this site. They could still be abused and need help. Our Chandler, AZ nursing home abuse attorney is here to help you stand up for your elderly family member’s rights.
Arizona Nursing Home Residents’ Rights
In order to know that your loved one’s rights are being abused by their nursing home, you should know the rights that they have as a resident in an Arizona long-term care facility. According to Arizona Department of Health Services’ Office of Long Term Care, there are specific rights that your family member is afforded when they’re in the care of a nursing home.
Here are some of the most important rights that need to be protected and your loved one deserves to have respected:
- The right to be treated with respect and dignity.
- Freedom from discrimination of any kind.
- Freedom from abuse of any kind.
- The right to quality care and treatment.
- Privacy in visitation, phone calls, and mail.
- The right to choose your own doctor and be involved in treatment plans.
- Freedom to practice your own religion.
- Choosing activities outside of and inside the facility.
- Voicing complaints with the facility.
- The right to have your own things.
- The right to make your own financial decisions.
These are just a few of the many rights that your elderly loved one maintains when they decide to live in a nursing home for further care. If you suspect that your family member is being abused in their facility, or their rights are being violated, then you should take action. Our Chandler, AZ nursing home abuse lawyer is here to help you file a legal claim to get justice.
What to Do If You Suspect Your Elderly Loved One Is Being Abused
When your loved one is in a nursing home and you suspect they’re experiencing abuse or neglect, you can be their best advocate when they can’t stand up for themselves. They may be scared to voice how they’ve been treated, or their mental state has deteriorated from the abuse and they have withdrawn, which means you are their greatest help in this situation.
The first thing you should do when you suspect abuse is to talk to your loved one about what they’re experiencing. From there, you should file a complaint with the staff of their facility. This way, you can make the staff aware of what’s happening and give them the option to correct the abuse and take action against the abuser.
If they don’t do anything, you can take further action. Through this complaint form, you can file a complaint with an Arizona Ombudsman who is trained in helping you protect your rights against an abusive facility.
On top of their help, you could benefit from having a nursing home abuse lawyer on your side. After a Chandler, AZ nursing home harms your loved one, you can trust Buckingham Barrera Vega Law Firm to represent your loved one and get them the compensation they deserve.
Our Chandler, AZ Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Will Support You
Experiencing abuse or neglect in your long-term care facility can leave you feeling dejected and unable to stand up for yourself. That’s where a Chandler, AZ nursing home abuse attorney from Buckingham Barrera Vega Law Firm can help you. We understand how intimidating filing a legal claim can be, which is why we’re here to stand up for you.
Our lawyers are prepared to handle the legal side of things so you and your family can focus on the immediate healing and safety. Reach out to our office today so we can discuss your options.
