Author Archives: Adam Peck

Everyone should be concerned about the quality of care in nursing homes. In my opinion, if someone doesn’t really care about people, then they shouldn’t be working in a nursing home. The reality is some people do slip through the cracks says Los Angeles Elder Abuse Lawyer Steven Peck.

Some nursing homes conduct employment screening only on certain individuals, such as those who have direct care with patients. But that’s not good business practice. Not only is it crucial to guard against physical and emotional abuse, there is also financial abuse.

Victims of all types of abuse experience suffering. Physical and emotional abuse can have severe consequences such discomfort and sometimes death. Financial nursing home abuse can cause the loss and depletion of everything someone worked for, thus having a negative impact on their standard of living.

When choosing a home it’s important to know about the people who work there. All applicants seeking employment in a nursing home should undergo thorough criminal background checks — for the safety and well-being of nursing home residents. Patients can be easy prey for criminals who take advantage of them.

Fortunately, due to the considerable rise in abuse, laws related to hiring nursing home employees are becoming increasingly strict throughout the United States and California. Laws and regulations making background checks mandatory in many states continue to be enacted or revised. Hiring quality employees across the organization should be the goal of every nursing home employer to ensure all staff can be trusted with patients.

North Carolina will be observing Vulnerable Adult and Elder Abuse Awareness Month from May 6th – June 20th 2011, according to North Carolina Division of Aging and Adult Services.

Nursing home abuse and neglect attorneys want to remind everyone to wear a purple ribbon in honor of keeping our elders safe and to watch out for the common forms of abuse that take place in nursing homes and what signs to look for if you have an elderly loved one residing in an elder care facility.

There are several types of nursing home abuse in Carolina and throughout the country. Physical abuse is the most apparent to the human eye. You may see signs of bruising, cuts, bed sores or other injuries, failure to maintain hygiene or unsanitary living conditions.

In addition to abuse, caregivers at nursing home facilities can be guilty of neglecting residents. Most types of neglect are not as easily detected. Nurses may neglect a resident in the following manners: failure to feed or provide water, connect and interact emotionally with the resident or refrain from giving correct doses of medication in time-sensitive situations or needed medical care.

Victims of abuse at nursing home or assisted living facilities are often afraid to speak up. If you have a loved one at an elder care facility, it is your responsibility to make sure they are being treated appropriately. The following are some suggestions to help make sure proper care is being given:

-Maintain a close connection by participating in as many activities as possible with your loved one.

-Interact with other residents to see if you can detect signs of abuse or neglect in them.

-Check your loved one’s medication records to make sure doses are properly maintained.

-Periodically check in with nurses or caregivers regarding the current physical and mental condition of your loved one.

-If abuse or neglect is detected – take action. Contact a Peck Law Group lawyer toll free at 1.866.999.9085 to discuss your rights immediately.