Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers – Memphis, TN
It seems that every business and service in the United States has been democratized through the use of online ratings and reviews. We can check/submit reviews on restaurants, products, stores, doctors, and even teachers. Sometimes, users can even check reviews and ratings submitted not by other users but by independent agencies. It’s now possible to get safety warnings as well as reviews about nursing homes. This is an important development, as far too many nursing home patients suffer abuse and neglect. As experienced Memphis, Tennessee nursing home abuse lawyers will attest, there is a real need for accurate information concerning the safety and resident experiences of nursing home patients.
This valuable information comes from a source trusted by most Americans: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). In October 2019, CMS announced that it would be adding an icon to its “Nursing Home Compare” website to alert users to nursing homes that have been cited for abuse, neglect or exploitation of residents. The logo is a red circle with a white “stop hand” in it. There are over 15,000 facilities rated on the website, and roughly 5 percent have been assigned the warning logo. If your loved one is currently residing in a facility flagged by CMS and you have concerns about how your loved one is being treated, don’t hesitate to connect with the experienced Memphis, TN nursing home abuse lawyers at Darrell Castle & Associates, PLLC today to explore your legal options.
Criteria For The Warning
The ratings and warnings are based on data from CMS inspection reports. A facility earns the unwanted icon due to:
- Abuse that resulted in patient harm within the past year
- Abuse within the past two years that could have potentially caused patient harm
Website users can read detailed inspection reports for nursing homes that have been tagged with the icon. Some 760 facilities have already received warning labels. To get off the list, a facility must go an entire year without a citation.
Abuse, Neglect And Exploitation Likely Underreported
As you might expect, the value and accuracy of the warning icon is up for debate. Some in the nursing home industry believe that warnings can be issued by mistake or based on incomplete information. Others, however, say that these warnings don’t convey the full scope of the problem. This is one of the many reasons why it’s important to speak with experienced Memphis, TN nursing home abuse lawyers before making assumptions about your family’s particular situation.
Indeed, many believe that nursing home abuse, neglect and exploitation are underreported because the victims are usually vulnerable adults who may be too scared to report what happened to them or may be unable to communicate due to physical or cognitive impairment. Therefore, it is especially important for family members to be vigilant and advocate for their loved ones.
What You Can Do
If someone you love is in a nursing home and you suspect they are being neglected or abused, you may be able to seek law enforcement intervention as well as pursue compensation on behalf of the victim. To better understand your legal options and how to fight back, please discuss your concerns with Memphis, TN nursing home abuse lawyers today.