Preventing Elder Abuse with A Place for Mom
During the past 20-plus years, the attorneys at Ellis Law have been serving as legal advocates for victims of the negligence and recklessness of others. Cases of elder neglect and nursing home abuse in California and beyond are among the most reprehensible we’ve seen. While a personal injury lawyer can help families pick up the pieces after neglect and abuse have been detected, the damage has already been inflicted on the most vulnerable of people.
Families with senior loved ones are strongly urged to do their due diligence when it comes to selecting a safe nursing home with caring, compassionate staff members. A Place for Mom is an excellent resource for families to help keep their loved ones safe.
Effective background checks on nursing homes
Families often try to provide care for their senior loved ones for as long as possible. But when the senior begins to require an intensive level of care, it’s often necessary to look outside the home for help. This is where A Place for Mom excels. It is a comprehensive resource that allows families to essentially conduct their own background checks on long-term care facilities, free of charge and without any obligation whatsoever.
When taking a closer look at the scope of the problem, it’s clear to see why careful research is so crucial. In 2013, local South Carolina ombudsmen investigated 8,497 complaints and reported 3,814 cases involving elder abuse and neglect, according to the South Carolina Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program. Of those, the leading type of complaint was of improper handling and accidents, which totaled 642 incidents. There were 419 reported cases of physical abuse, 330 of gross neglect, and 307 reports of verbal or mental abuse. Improper medication administration is also a significant problem, with 164 complaints reported for 2013 alone.
Of course, there is no way to guarantee an individual’s safety and well-being in any long-term care facility. However, doing careful research on the facility and its staff can make a difference. With A Place for Mom, you’ll have instant access to the important information you need to make an informed decision for those you cherish most. You can search assisted living locations by postal code, look up assisted living laws, check pricing on each facility, and get an insider’s view with informed, thoughtful reviews. You can even speak with an experienced advisor at A Place for Mom for help assessing your loved one’s needs. With so much information available at your fingertips, there’s no reason not to check out an assisted living facility before moving your loved one there.
Affected by elder abuse? Here’s what you can do
If you suspect a loved one has been neglected or abused by caregivers, it’s imperative to take action immediately to protect your loved one. If you believe your loved one could be in imminent danger, you should contact your local police department right away.
Your next step is to call an experienced Los Angeles personal injury attorney to serve as a legal advocate for your family. Based in Los Angeles, Ellis Law welcomes questions from families about their legal rights and options following complaints of elder neglect or abuse. Call us at 310-641-3335 and we’ll help guide you through the legal process.