A nursing home is a facility that provides skilled nursing care and related services for residents who require medical or nursing care; rehabilitation services for injured, disabled, or sick persons; and health-related care and services, above the level of room and board, which can be made available only through institutional facilities.
Although institutional care, by its very nature, substantially limits one's lifestyle and scope of privacy, one should nevertheless expect high quality, compassionate and dignified care from nursing facilities.
The federal Nursing Home Reform Amendments of 1987, and corresponding state laws, protect residents in nearly all nursing facilities. For residents who lack decision-making capacity, the resident's agent under a power of attorney for health care or another legal representative recognized by state law may exercise the resident's rights.
Federal law requires that nursing homes meet strong basic standards for the quality of life of each resident and for the provision of services and activities. There are many specific rights guaranteed by federal and state law.
If you notice any of the following signs of abuse, please contact our office immediately.
- Malnutrition
- Dehydration
- Pressure Sores / Bed Sores
- Dry Skin
- Chapped Lips
- Unexplained Weight Loss
- Inability to Eat
- Infections
- Falls / Broken Bones
- Excessive Bruising
- Verbal Abuse
- Physical Abuse
