What Are Your Options If Someone Is Arrested at Your Loved One’s Nursing Home?
Has there been an abuse-related nursing home arrest in your loved one’s facility?
Whether it’s a staff member, a caregiver, or even another resident, an arrest is a sign that something serious has gone wrong. As a Memphis lawyer who handles nursing home abuse cases, I know how chaotic the situation can feel after something like this happens.
Let me walk you through your options so you know the steps to protect your loved one.
Step 1: Make Sure Your Loved One Is Safe
Your top priority is your loved one’s safety.
Visit the facility right away and check on their physical and emotional well-being. If your loved one has trouble communicating, consider these guides for symptoms of emotional abuse and symptoms of sexual abuse in nursing homes.
If needed, you should demand medical attention, a care plan, mental health support, and supervision. This will all depend on the situation.
You may also request a room change if the person arrested was a roommate or someone who had regular access to your loved one. If you feel uncomfortable with their safety at all, you should ask for what you need.
Consider moving them if you no longer trust the facility to provide safe, quality care.
Step 2: Get the Facts
Start by finding out:
- Who was arrested? Was it a nurse, aide, administrator, or another resident?
- What were they charged with? This could be assault, sexual abuse, neglect, theft, or another crime.
- Was your loved one involved or harmed? If the nursing home hasn’t contacted you, ask for a full report immediately.
- Did the facility report the incident properly and on time? Nursing homes are legally required to report suspected abuse to the state and to families.
If the facility refuses to share information or gives you vague answers, that’s a red flag.
In addition, you should be aware of any and all video footage or other evidence that might implicate the arrested person. If they home has security cameras in the hallway, for example, it might help show whether or not they had access to your loved one.
Step 3: File a Complaint
Even if someone has already been arrested, you can still file a complaint with:
These agencies can investigate whether the facility failed in its duty to protect residents. However, the scope of those investigations are limited, and they don’t often focus on justice or compensation for individuals.
So if your loved one was injured, you absolutely need to speak with an attorney as well.
Step 4: Talk to a Lawyer
An arrest is a criminal matter, but if your loved one was injured, your family may also have a civil case. In that situation, you’d want to file a personal injury claim for nursing home abuse and/or neglect.
The nursing home can be held legally responsible if it:
- Failed to screen or train employees properly
- Ignored warning signs
- Didn’t report or respond to complaints
- Failed to supervise staff or residents
- and possibly more.
You may be able to recover damages for medical bills, emotional distress, and other damages.
And often, legal action is the only way to make sure a facility changes its practices. So not only can you get justice for your loved one and your family, but you can also prevent abuse from happening in the future.
Legal Help After a Nursing Home Arrest
If someone was arrested at your loved one’s nursing home, it’s not something you can ignore or brush off. An arrest points to serious safety concerns. You have the right to demand answers – and you don’t have to do it alone.
As a Memphis lawyer with decades experience in nursing home abuse cases, I can help.
Our award-winning team will help you understand your options, investigate your claim, and take strong, swift legal action to get the compensation your loved one needs and deserves.
What’s more, we don’t win anything unless and until we win your case. So you have nothing to lose and everything to gain in seeking justice.
Contact us today to get started. Your loved one deserves safety, dignity, and justice – and I’m here to help you fight for it.
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