Your elderly loved ones need particular care, especially when they move into a nursing home. While most nursing home staff members are diligent in their duties, there are others who may attempt to take advantage of a resident who can no longer take care of themselves.
Because there are so many kinds of abuse that a loved one in a nursing home can fall victim to, it can be difficult to know what signs of mistreatment to look for. However, if you suspect that a loved one may not be benefiting from comprehensive or caring service under a nursing home staff attention, you can work with our team to investigate possible abuse.
Protecting Your Loved Ones in New Mexico Nursing Homes
Before you bring nursing home abuse to the attention of legal representatives, it is in your best interest to both remove your loved one from danger and gather evidence of mistreatment. That said, it can be difficult to prove nursing home abuse or negligence.
There are many kinds of abuse that do not leave physical symptoms behind, like emotional mistreatment or some forms of financial abuse. If your loved one is not in the condition to accurately report on their well-being, you may find your fight to prove nursing home negligence hindered further.
Fortunately, you do not have to investigate a question of nursing home abuse alone. A nursing home abuse attorney can investigate a nursing home for signs of mistreatment and help you build a case against the offending party.
New Mexico Is a Required Reporting State
New Mexico residents are required to report all instances of alleged or suspected nursing home abuse upon discovering evidence of mistreatment. This strategy of “required reporting” is meant to make it easier for victims and their families to take legal action against offending parties.
This also means that you may be contacted by a medical professional or another party who believes your loved one may be in danger. If this is the case, you can collaborate with both them and your attorney to determine what your next legal steps look like.
In some cases, the whistleblower and benevolent nursing home staff members may be able to testify on your and your loved one’s behalf.
Retaliation in Nursing Home Abuse Cases
Many parties are reluctant to bring forward accusations of nursing home abuse out of fear of retaliation. The good news is that reporters and their loved ones can benefit from unique protections when reporting nursing home abuse.
These protections allow you to report any instances of retaliation you may suffer in court and at home. You can even report retaliation if your loved one endures it at a new nursing home. Should you find yourself contending with intimidation attempts or vandalism, an experienced lawyer can step in and stand between you and the offending parties.
Reach Out to a New Mexico Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Today
There is no form of nursing home abuse that is excusable in the eyes of the law. If you suspect a loved one may be the victim of nursing home abuse, you can count on a personal injury lawyer to guide you through this difficult time and explain your options.
At Dominguez Law, we take nursing home abuse cases very seriously. We understand how hurtful and traumatizing these events can be, and we want to provide your case with the compassion it deserves. You can schedule a free consultation with us by calling (505) 850-5854 or filling out our contact form.
We also speak Spanish.