Nursing Home Issues Getting a Close Look from Maryland Officials

Regardless of why a person lives in a nursing home, they and their families expect that they will be protected and treated in a caring way.

Unfortunately, there are often allegations that facilities and their staff are negligent or outright abusive. When a person is living in a nursing home and family members believe they have been neglected or mistreated, it is important to recognize the signs and know what options are available to hold the nursing home accountable. Recently, there have been growing complaints that are being investigated.

State ombudsman plans to address nursing home complaints

A local news investigation revealed how nursing home complaints are being mishandled. This has sparked the state ombudsman and other agencies to assess the problem. One specific incident involved a family who was unhappy with the care a family member was receiving. They contacted the State Office of Health Care Quality and did not receive any feedback, nor was anything done.

According to the state Deputy Health Secretary, these complaints should be thoroughly investigated and the family apprised of the progress, but this isn’t always the case.

Nursing home abuse should not be tolerated

People might not know where to turn if they think their loved one has been injured or died because of nursing home negligence. In many cases, they have even tried to contact state agencies to address the issue and received little to no assistance.

When nursing home injuries or death has happened and people either have clear evidence or suspect it was due to the facility and its staff, it is important to know their rights and to act quickly. Whether it was physical abuse, failure to provide nutrition, medication or treatment, there are options. Having professional help can give guidance with what can be done.