Nursing homes are inspected in states across America to make sure that they follow regulations. However, there are some states, such as Florida, that have considered reducing the inspections of nursing homes overall. This is done with the purpose of freeing up resources so that they can be devoted to inspecting the nursing homes that are the most lacking. However, you should speak with your nursing home neglect attorney about how this might affect you if you have a nursing home abuse case.

Adding Flexibility

The overall trend is toward providing state healthcare administrations with more flexibility regarding how often they can regulate nursing homes. This is in response to a growing number of patients in nursing homes which has made inspections take longer and has increased the number of nursing home facilities.

There are some facilities that perform consistently at a higher rate and some regulators believe that it is unnecessary to regulate them. However, nursing homes that have not had problems in the past can see these problems later arise. For example, a new employee may be hired by a nursing home that previously didn't have a history of neglect. The nursing home may not be properly inspected and your loved one might suffer from neglect as a result.

An Example of Nursing Home Neglect

Nursing home neglect can be as simple as abandonment. A staff member who was responsible for the care of the patient might leave them in a public place or at a hospital. This can create distress for the patient, place the patient in danger, and can prevent the patient from receiving the care they need.

If a nursing home has a history of abuse or neglect as a result of a prior inspection, your nursing home abuse attorney can use this as evidence that the nursing home has a long history of negligence. The attorney can also interview witnesses at the nursing home who may have observed the neglect and work closely with medical professionals who can explain how the injuries suffered by your loved one were the result of actions taken by the nursing home. 

The sooner you act, the fewer obstacles you will face when trying to prove that your loved one was the victim of nursing home neglect. The memories of witnesses often fade and medical documents can often disappear. However, with the quick action of a nursing home abuse attorney, you can hold a negligent nursing home accountable.

For more information, contact a nursing home neglect attorney today.