A People First Law Firm

Office Building of Steven D. Davis Law Group, APC.

Complaints can help patients who suffer elder abuse

Many aging adults rely on nursing home caregivers to provide them with life-altering care. If your loved one is in a facility, you expect that he or she is not subject to harm. To learn that the caregivers neglected or abused your loved one, can come as a shock. 

To combat nursing home abuse and neglect, the California Department of Public Health has instructions on how a person can file a complaint against a nursing home. 

How to spot injuries 

Loved ones who undergo abuse or neglect can present with several different types of injuries. The signs include: 

  • Bedsores 
  • Fractured limbs 
  • Malnutrition and dehydration 
  • Poor personal hygiene 

Bedsores occur when caregivers leave patients in bed. Malnutrition, dehydration and poor personal hygiene are also signs of neglect. When it comes to broken bones, these may occur when a patient falls out of bed or if a caregiver handles him or her too roughly. 

How to file a complaint 

You know that your loved one suffered abuse at the hands of a nursing home. What can you do? If you have access to the internet, you can file a complaint online through the California Health Facilities Information Database. For those who prefer other means, you can print a letter and mail or fax it to the district office or make a complaint via telephone. Once the district office investigates, it must notify you of the results. 

If you worry about your loved one’s well-being in a nursing home, you can file a complaint for abuse or neglect. Our web page includes more information on this topic. 

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