Placing your elderly loved one in the hands of someone else is a big step to take when you are unable to provide the care they require. That is why there are long-term care facilities available for you to place them in that are designed to take care of them and tend to their needs. There are nearly 1,165 long-term care facilities containing more than 81,100 beds that are licensed and inspected in the state of Missouri.
With the large number of facilities available for elderly individuals across the state, there are various options you have when it comes time to place a loved one in a long-term care facility. While some of these facilities provide excellent care and services, sometimes, others operate having unexperienced or neglectful employees working under their roof. If your loved one was harmed while under the care of a nurse or other health care worker during this stay in a nursing home or other like facility in Springfield, MO, you should have options as to where you can turn to.
USAttorneys.com works closely with some of the top accident lawyers in Springfield, Missouri and would be glad to place you in touch with various professionals that you can consult with. These Springfield accident attorneys can inform you of the important facts surrounding nursing home accidents and what options you have that will allow you to stand up for your loved one.
Sometimes, your loved one’s wellbeing isn’t placed on the forefront when living in certain facilities and there is a way to combat against this should they have been mistreated, neglected, or abused.
What rights does an elderly individual have while living in a nursing home?
While age carries experience along with it, elderly individuals also tend to see a decline in their physical abilities as well as their mental capabilities. Some elderly individuals suffer from dementia or Alzheimer’s, however, there are plenty of others who are competent living within nursing homes and similar types of facilities. One of the reasons why some senior citizens decide to live in a nursing home is because they either are at risk of harming themselves or they simply cannot do the things they once could.
Even though many of these individuals can’t do the physical things their bodies permitted them to do, their minds are still functional and working. Therefore, the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services states that a competent older person still has rights and these include:
- They can refuse all services and interventions.
- Be free from mental and physical abuse.
- Be informed of their medical condition.
- Select their own physician.
- Participate in planning their care.
- Refuse treatment.
- Voice grievances.
- Be treated with respect and dignity.
- Have treatments provided in privacy.
If you are under the impression that your elderly relative was involved in accident that stemmed from them being mistreated or taken advantage of, you need aggressive legal assistance on your side. Our accident and injury lawyers in the city of Springfield, Missouri are going to put your case on the forefront and ensure that justice is served for the suffering your loved one has had to endure.
