Things Nursing Homes in Georgia Are Not Allowed to Do
If you have a loved one living in a nursing home, you are well aware of exactly how vulnerable he or she is. Our aging relatives depend upon others to provide them with the care necessary to maintain their health and live their best lives, and when those responsible fail to measure up, it can lead to serious problems. The reality is that nursing homes do not always follow the guidelines set out by law. If you believe your loved one is the victim of nursing home neglect or abuse, seek the professional legal counsel of an experienced Forsyth County nursing home injury attorney today.
Nursing Homes Are Not Allowed to Skimp on Health Assessments
When someone moves into a nursing home, the facility performs a health assessment – and continues to do so throughout the resident’s stay. These health assessments guide the care the residents receive, and the nursing home is not allowed to skimp on this necessary component of care – or to ignore the care that these assessments deem necessary. In other words, nursing homes are required to continue providing the specific care their residents need.
Nursing Homes Are Not Allowed to Require Residents to Accept Their Money Management Services
While a nursing home can offer its residents money management services, residents cannot be required to partake of these services. Further, the nursing home can’t act as the resident’s financial custodian without the resident’s consent.
Nursing Homes Are Not Allowed to Engage in Inhumane Practices
Just like anyone else, the residents of nursing homes have every right to maintain their dignity and respect, which includes the right to make their own decisions (as long as the decisions don’t conflict with their care plans) regarding all of the following (and more):
- What time to go to bed
- When to take one’s meals
- Which activities to engage in
Nursing home staff are not allowed to interfere with this right. Further, they must refrain from all of the following inhumane practices:
- Verbal or physical abuse
- The administration of medications that aren’t part of the resident’s care plan
- The use of physical restraints (unless the resident poses a credible threat to self or others)
- Involuntary isolation
Nursing Homes Are Not Allowed to Leave Residents out of Medical Decisions
Every nursing home resident has the right to know about his or her physical condition, treatment options, any diagnoses. They also have the right to see their own medical records. Residents have the right to make their own decisions regarding all of this, and if they need help in the form of mental, legal, or financial counseling to do so, the nursing home must provide for this need. Nursing homes are not allowed to ignore any of these basic rights of their residents.
Look to an Experienced Cumming Nursing Home Injury Attorney
The compassionate Forsyth County and Cumming nursing home abuse attorneys at Banks, Stubbs & McFarland are committed to helping you protect your loved one from the ravages of nursing home neglect and abuse. To learn more, please don’t wait to contact us online or call us at 770-887-1209 today.