Incidents of abuse in nursing home care facilities are reported at an alarmingly high rate in Ontario. This is unfortunately because the elderly are among one of the most vulnerable populations to such mistreatment. They oftentimes do not have the mental capacity to defend themselves or fully understand what is happening to them. Follow along to find out the indications of nursing home abuse and how a proficient Toronto medical malpractice lawyer at Merricks Law Group, P.A. can help if your loved one has been made a victim of this.
What are indications that my loved one is a victim of nursing home abuse?
You may feel guilty enough that you are unable to care for your loved one full-time, and that you have to place them in a nursing home instead. But your guilt may become insurmountable upon hearing the news that they have been made the victim of abuse during their stay. This is why you must keenly look for any indications of such mistreatment before it even starts, or before it ever leads to such irreversible damage. Without further ado, below are the signs that you must monitor:
- Your loved one has injuries from a slip, trip, and fall but they cannot explain it or cannot recall how it happened (i.e., a sign of physical abuse).
- Your loved one exhibits unprecedented mood swings and isolates themselves from community events or activities (i.e., a sign of emotional abuse).
- Your loved one is missing money or valuable items from their bedroom and they do not know how they possibly lost it (i.e., a sign of financial abuse).
- Your loved one appears not to be taking their prescription medications, eating daily meals, or drinking enough water (i.e., a sign of neglect or abandonment).
When should I report an incident of nursing home abuse?
As soon you get an inkling that your loved one may have been or is the subject of abuse, you must drop everything and report it. This is so you may ensure your loved one’s safety and well-being, along with preventing such incidents from happening to other nursing home residents in the future. Your report should be filed with the management at the nursing home care facility itself; your local law enforcement office; and the Long-Term Care Family Support and Action Line (1-866-434-0144).
Then, you may want to take legal action into your own hands and file a personal injury claim against the negligent nursing home care facility. Again, you should submit your claim as soon as possible. But at the very least, this should be done before Ontario’s two-year statute of limitations.
If you are unsure of your next move, resort to a talented Ontario personal injury lawyer. Someone at Merricks Law Group, P.A. will know exactly what legal option works in your best interest. So call our office today.
