It can be a hard on a Massachusetts family to make the difficult decision to place a loved one in a nursing home. Many people would prefer to live in their own homes if they could, and families often look at all of their options to see if they can provide their loved ones with the care they need to live as independently as possible. When the option to live alone or with relatives is not possible, individuals may find themselves looking for nursing homes to provide them with their ongoing care.
A nursing home is a facility for people who need help with their daily personal and medical needs. Nursing homes are regulated to ensure that they do not present threats or hazards to their residents, but unfortunately many individuals suffer harm at the hands of their nursing home care providers. When entering a nursing home, individuals should be aware of their rights and options for redress.
A nursing home resident cannot be denied access to their family members, doctors, and property. They cannot be forced into medical treatments that they do not agree with and they cannot be compelled to give up their privacy or security in their medical records. Nursing home residents can file grievances when they are treated unfairly and may not be made victims of retribution for filing such grievances.
These are only some of the protections that nursing home residents retain when they leave the independence of their own homes. Problems in nursing homes should be addressed by attorneys who understand the important field of elder law. These attorneys can help their clients avoid the suffering that can occur when nursing home residents are subjected to neglect and abuse.