How should I proceed if an elderly family member is unhappy in their nursing home in Marshall Texas?
Nursing homes often have a bad reputation as places where people receive improper treatment and are exposed to infections and other health problems due staffing issues and the lack of proper funding. However, these homes are actually supposed to be places where the elderly can go to make the most of their final years in a supportive environment with high levels of care and assistance.
An article about a man in Marshall Texas demonstrates how this process is supposed to take place.
Resident turns around his life with the help of physical therapy and high quality treatment
An elderly man was distraught at the prospect of being placed in a home in Marshall called Marshall Manor. The 85 year old resident said he was scared that the rest of his life would feel like an extended hospital stay after experiencing some recent health problems. He claims to have always been physically active, and decided to undergo physical therapy to improve his condition and his ability to move around independently. Over the span of just a few months, the man was able to lose his wheelchair and walker as he developed more and more independence with the help of a therapist and exercise routines.
The man is now able to walk enough to do his own gardening and help with the landscaping around the facility, and he seems to be in a much better mood. He claims he has never been happier.
How common are stories such as this?
Unfortunately, it seems that these kinds of positive nursing home stories are rare. Texas has consistently been ranked near the bottom of the entire United States for the quality of care in its nursing homes. A number of local and state governments around the country have already attempted to make reforms such as increased fines and mandates of additional hiring. They hope that these steps will function to curb the national problems of under staffing and neglect that occurs in many homes around the country.
Ideally, these reforms may make stories such as the one from the Marshall resident above the norm rather than an anomaly. This is what nursing homes are really supposed to accomplish, yet these kinds of outcomes are very elusive. It is much more likely that your family members may feel very different after being placed in a nursing home.
Why are so many residents in nursing homes unhappy?
If an elderly person is unhappy in the environment of the home, it may be best to remove them and have them placed in a facility with a better reputation. Some simple internet searching should help in trying to locate a higher quality home and finding citations and health code violations against the problematic facility.
If their bad mood was caused by specific instances of neglect or improper medical care, this can lead to serious health complications or even death when left unchecked. It is best maintain constant communication with them, and to speak with a lawyer who specializes in issues affecting senior citizens. It may be possible to file a lawsuit against the home in order to be compensated for any additional treatment that may be needed due to their negligence.
Talk to a nursing home abuse lawyer about your situation
If someone in your family has legitimately been harmed while in a nursing home, there are lawyers who can file a lawsuit on your behalf. The Cooper Law Firm has offices in Longview Texas and they are available to help anyone who has been injured or mistreated in the Lone Star State.
