Rhode Island Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers

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There are plenty of statistics to show that nursing home abuse is a problem that is not going to end any time soon. It seems that nursing home administrators would rather risk the improper care and neglect of patients rather than expending adequate sums to hire the right number of workers and properly train them. News media reports indicate that over 90 percent of nursing homes do not hire enough staff workers to provide the proper treatment of patients. The result is that residents may be abandoned, not properly supervised or even dropped during transitions.

Medicare routinely investigates, inspects and surveys the eighty-four nursing homes rated in Rhode Island at least one time every year during inspections and surveys. According to the federal agency, currently, seventeen (20%) of these facilities were found to provide substandard care based on identified violations and deficiencies. 

If your loved one was injured, abused, mistreated, or died unexpectedly from neglect while residing at a Rhode Island nursing facility, we encourage you to contact the Rhode Island nursing home abuse lawyers at the Nursing Home Law Center today to discuss a case for compensation during a free, initial case evaluation.

Rhode Island Nursing Home Laws

Every year, the State of Rhode Island Department of Health publishes information about Rhode Island nursing homes. This information includes research on nursing home satisfaction and the quality of care outcomes every year. If you are thinking about enrolling your loved one in a new nursing home, then you may want to read through the reports to learn about the conditions of different nursing homes in the state. Doing your research can help you choose a nursing home that has a history of quality care for residents.

Rhode Island Nursing Home Abuse LawyersIn addition, you can learn information about the standards that nursing homes must meet if you have a loved one who is currently in a nursing home. Nursing homes in Rhode Island must abide by quality standards that are established under state and federal law. The Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987 requires that nursing homes treat all residents with respect and dignity. 

Their privacy must be respected, and they must also have access to all of the medical services that they need. For example, a nursing home resident may require physical therapy services to improve his or her range of motion after a surgery. A nursing home is required to provide this care if it has been determined that the resident truly needs physical therapy services for his or her care.

Problems arise when nursing homes fail to acknowledge the laws set forth to protect residents. A nursing home may fail to acknowledge that it is prohibited from using physical or chemical restraints to control the physical motion of patients. The use of bed straps or drugs is clearly outlawed for the purpose of discipline, punishment or to control behaviors of residents. 

If you learn that your loved one has been subjected to these control methods, then you should speak with Rhode Island nursing home lawyers about the rights of your loved one. Rhode Island nursing home lawyers will help to protect your loved one and may be able to file a lawsuit against the administrators of a nursing home.

The Types and Signs of Nursing Home Abuse

Physical abuse, verbal abuse, sexual abuse and emotional abuse are all clearly prohibited under federal and state laws. It is not okay for nursing home workers to use derogatory terms or other discriminatory language in treating patients. 

If your loved one feels uncomfortable with the staff workers that treat him or her, then you should get in touch with nursing home lawyers as soon as possible. Nursing home lawyers understand the signs of abuse and can take steps to remedy it.

Physical abuse is the most noticeable type of abuse to recognize. Family members will notice this abuse by the scratches, bruising, scars, open wounds or broken limbs that a patient has.

Talk to Rhode Island Nursing Home Lawyers for a Consultation

Get in touch with Rhode Island nursing home lawyers to receive help with your nursing home abuse case today. It is important to ensure that your loved one is protected and safe at all times. Our attorneys are ready to help residents throughout the state of Rhode Island in areas such as:

  • Bristol
  • Cranston
  • East Providence
  • Newport
  • North Providence
  • Pawtucket
  • Providence
  • Warwick
  • West Warwick
  • Woonsocket

Hold nursing home administrators accountable for conduct that has been outlawed for years. Nursing home lawyers can also provide you with information about Rhode Island nursing homes to strengthen your case.

Rhode Island Lawyers Serving Victims of Bed Sores, Pressure Sores & Decubitus Ulcers

The number of senior citizens has risen rapidly over the years, and so too has the increasing need for nursing home beds. With such a large aging population in their retirement years, many more individuals are unable to take care of themselves without some assistance. However, this increasing demand on nursing homes has left many administrators searching for caregivers with training on how to provide quality care to seniors. With minimal staffing and lack of quality nurses and nurse’s aides, the numbers of nursing home patients developing decubitus ulcers has been on the rise.

A decubitus ulcer (pressure ulcer; bedsore; pressure sore) can develop easily when a patient with mobility issues remains idle for an extended time. Without repositioning, body pressure where it contacts the bed, wheelchair or pad can restrict blood circulation to the skin. In less than two hours, the lack of oxygen to skin and underlying tissue can become easily damaged, developing a bedsore. Without immediate treatment, the condition can worsen to a life-threatening stage.

Patients most at risk for developing a decubitus ulcer are those who are bedridden or wheelchair-bound, along with disabled individuals and those under constant sedation or in a coma. The most common areas on the body where pressure sores develop include the shoulders, buttocks, tailbone, hips, ankles, toes, heels, back of the head, neck, elbows and ears.

The Benefits of Skin Management at RI Nursing Homes and Hospitals

Rhode Island Pressure SoreIn nearly every case, decubitus ulcers are preventable as long as the nursing home provides minimal care. In its initial stage, a bedsore will appear as a wound with blisters and red spots where the surrounding skin is either cooler or firmer than the sore. To eliminate the potential of developing a bedsore, it is essential that the nursing facility take basic steps that include:

  • Assess the patient’s skin when first admitted to the facility to look for any detectable signs of a developing or existing bedsore

  • Create an effective health care plan for any patient with a high propensity of developing a decubitus ulcer including the disabled, wheelchair-bound, bedridden patients or those with the medical condition that would keep them from moving without assistance

  • Evaluate the patient’s skin at the beginning of every nurse shift change to look for any signs of compromised pressure points on the body

  • Change any clothing, bedding materials, pads or cushions that are wet or soiled to ensure the patient keeps clean and dry

  • Provide the patient adequate hydration and nutritional meals to boost their immune system

Call (800) 926-7565 Toll-Free for a No Obligation Consultation

Progressive Pressure Sores Need to Be Caught Early

The nursing home medical staff can be found negligent if the patient’s pressure sores are allowed to advance to a critical stage. This is because there are effective, proven protocols for managing existing bedsores in early stages to eliminate the potential of allowing the condition to worsen.

In its advanced stage, a decubitus ulcer can develop an open deep crater where the patient’s bone, tendons and muscles are exposed. Developing an infection of the bone (osteomyelitis) or blood (sepsis) at this stage is likely, placing the patient in grave danger.

Hiring an Attorney to Prosecuted a Rhode Island Bed Sore Case

When families discover their loved one in a Rhode Island nursing home has suffered a pressure sore, they usually make immediate contact with the administrator and nursing management. However, many nursing facilities will go to great lengths to deter any legal action by sending the injured patient home, to the hospital or to another nursing facility. Because of that, it is essential to hire a Rhode Island decubitus ulcer attorney to stop the neglect immediately.

Our Rhode Island attorneys listed below specialize in medical malpractice cases and can offer a variety of legal remedies to stop the neglect and hold those at fault legally responsible. An attorney can assist the family in seeking financial compensation for the injuries their loved one has suffered. These professionals offer their services in cities all throughout Rhode Island including:

  • Providence
  • Warwick
  • Cranston
  • Pawtucket
  • East Providence

Fill out the form here to speak with a Rhode Island decubitus ulcer attorney listed below. These law firms work on contingency and can provide you valuable options to obtain financial compensation for the damages your family has endured.

Call (800) 926-7565 Toll-Free for a No Obligation Consultation

Nursing Home Negligence

STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS

  • 3 years with Discovery Rule. (R.I. Gen. Laws §9-1-14 – Limitation of actions for words spoken or personal injuries)

DAMAGES CAP

  • None.

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Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect Resources

Client Reviews

★★★★★
Jonathan did a great job helping my family navigate through a lengthy lawsuit involving my grandmother's death in a nursing home. Through every step of the case, Jonathan kept my family informed of the progression of the case. Although our case eventually settled at a mediation, I really was impressed at how well prepared Jonathan was to take the case to trial. Lisa
★★★★★
After I read Jonathan’s Nursing Home Blog, I decided to hire him to look into my wife’s treatment at a local nursing home. Jonathan did a great job explaining the process and the laws that apply to nursing homes. I immediately felt at ease and was glad to have him on my side. Though the lawsuit process was at times frustrating, Jonathan reassured me, particularly at my deposition. I really felt like Jonathan cared about my wife’s best interests, and I think that came across to the lawyers for the nursing home. Eric