Abuse of residents within care homes in Beaumont Texas
Have you or a loved one been a victim of nursing home abuse? Nursing home abuse lawyers are here to legally assist victims and their family in receiving financial compensation if a senior citizen was injured or neglected by staff or other residents of the assisted living. In Texas, statistics have shown that nearly thirty percent of all nursing homes in this state have been cited for some form of abuse to a resident.
Stay alert to any signs of elder abuse by staff or other residents within the care home
If you are unsure of the way your loved one is being treated in the nursing home by staff, it is advised to look for the following signs while visiting the resident of the nursing home and taking what your they say about their treatment seriously. If anything seems out of the ordinary, it may be best to hire an attorney to conduct an investigation of the assisted living. Keep a look out for:
- Frequent complaints from victim in which they are not properly being taken care of
- Passive or emotionless behavior
- Refusing to eat
- Bruises or bumps with no explanation
- Improper hygiene of victim
- Unexplainable mood swings
- Dehydration
- Hesitation to talk openly and disorientation
- Bed sores
- Unclean living environment
Laws in Texas regarding abuse or neglect in nursing homes and what victim’s families can do
Laws in Texas state that mental and physical abuse, involuntary seclusion from others in the home, and inappropriate use of residential property is unlawful. Failure to meet these regulations from the state of Texas by staff of these nursing homes can result in consequences ranging from fees, penalties, retribution, to jail time. Victims of abuse or neglect and their families may also file a civil case in which the defendant will pay the compensation towards the elder and their family if they win or reach a settlement.
Elders living in assisted living homes have rights that must be protected by the staff. Failure to respect these rights is abuse and can be brought to court. Residents living in nursing homes have the right to privacy, have their dignity respected and protected, have their preferences listened to and accommodated properly, with a clean environment.
Nursing home staff must ensure residents have with everything they need to avoid any risk and maintain their health
Nursing homes in Texas also have a list of requirements that must be fulfilled in order to keep a legal nursing home operating. These requirements include:
- Registered nurse on scene seven days a week for at least eight hours a day as well as a physician, dietician, dentist, and a mental health professional.
- Healthcare that is accommodating of each person’s different health issues.
- Professional help with social, mental, and physical disabilities
- Infection control in place in order to prevent spreading or development of disease.
- Assistance with proper exercises
- Access to water, a nutritious diet that includes meals and snacks throughout the day
- Clean environments for the seniors. This means:
- Linens are changed and washed on a regular basis
- Kitchen and bathroom are clean at all times
- Outdoor areas have clear paths, free of obstacles.
- The floors are swept on a regular basis
