Reporting Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect in Mississippi

When your loved one is no longer able to care for themselves on their own, or you’re not able to care for them in your home anymore, you resort to trusting a nursing home to provide them with the care that they need. Unfortunately, staffing shortages, too-long hours, and other factors can sometimes lead to your loved one getting subpar, or even abusive, care in their long-term facility. When you notice this happening, you might feel confused because it’s not what you had in mind for your loved one, and you thought this facility would be better.

These suspicions of abuse and neglect need to be reported right away. Not just because your loved one deserves the dignity of proper care, but also because other residents might be experiencing this poor treatment as well. To support you through your claims, you’ll want to hire a Jackson nursing home abuse lawyer from Pittman Roberts & Welsh, PLLC. It can be intimidating going up against a long-term care facility, but with us on your side, you’ll know your loved one will get justice.

Who Do I Report Nursing Home Abuse To?

When you suspect that your loved one is experiencing abuse or neglect at their nursing home, you want to act immediately. According to Mississippi law, it is mandatory to report if you suspect that an elder, or vulnerable person, is being abused, neglected, or exploited. And when it is reported, the Mississippi Vulnerable Persons Act requires an investigation into the claims.

Here are the progressions that you should follow if you suspect that your older loved one is being mistreated by the staff or residents at their long-term care facility:

• Notify the facility’s administration. When you suspect that your loved one is being abused or neglected in their facility, the first people you should report it to is the administration of their nursing home. They will have to check into the reported abuse and make changes. If they don’t, you have other resources for change.
• Reach out to the Ombudsman Program in Mississippi. Under the federal Older Americans Act, states are required to have an ombudsman program. An ombudsman is an advocate for nursing home residents’ rights and will fight to get your loved one proper care.
• Contact the Mississippi Department of Health. If you want to take it further, you can report the abuse to the Mississippi Department of Health, the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, and the Office of the State Attorney General. All these resources are available to help you get justice for the abuse your loved one endured.
• Hire a lawyer. You have ample resources to choose from when reporting the abuse and neglect of your loved one, but you’ll want a nursing home abuse lawyer on your side so you have legal support throughout your reporting. A lawyer will also be able to investigate all aspects of the situation and take state laws into account for your claim so your loved one is fully represented.

If not reported, abuse can progress from injuries and malnutrition to death. So that you know what to look for in your loved one’s behavior, let’s look at the common signs of nursing home abuse and neglect.

What Are the Signs of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect?

There are many different types of nursing home abuse and neglect, which is why there are many different signs to look for in your loved one who you think might be being abused or neglected. Whether your loved one is being physically abused, experiencing medication errors, or being completely ignored in their facility, here are some of the signs you can look for that warrant a report:

• Bruises
• Bedsores
• Poor hygiene
• Unexplained weight loss
• Acting withdrawn
• Increased distress
• Unexplained transactions in their bank account

Hire a Jackson Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

Going up against a nursing home can be intimidating, which is why you’ll want legal support throughout reporting the abuse. A Jackson nursing home abuse lawyer will be able to guide you through the process of your claim and ensure that your loved one gets justice for the abuse they endured. Nobody deserves to be treated poorly, especially by a person they trust. Reach out to us today so we can discuss your potential case and get started right away.