Memphis, Tennessee, Nursing Home Abuse Attorney

A shocking figure to many Tennesseans comes from the National Center on Elder Abuse. The organization conducted a study which recently revealed that 50% of the nursing homes across the country, including those here in Memphis, do not have enough staff members to handle the demands that come with properly operating a nursing facility.

Here in Tennessee, all you have to do is read the newspapers to understand just how serious a problem elder abuse is. Tennessee alone has 35,000 nursing home beds; far more than any regulators can possibly keep watch over. Despite the strict laws in place in the state, there are simply too many nursing facilities to monitor continually. It’s into these cracks in oversight that vulnerable seniors fall, becoming victims of abuse and neglect to opportunistic staff members.

It’s important that seniors and their loved ones understand that in Memphis, TN, all nursing home residents have the right to live in a clean and healthy environment. That means patients have a right to sanitary care and high quality living conditions. It’s up to the staff members at each nursing facility to ensure that this level of care is provided, regardless of financial status, race or gender. Any failure to do so should be severely punished.

Tennessee state law also requires that residents of nursing homes be provided regular, nutritious meals and snacks. This includes diets for people with specific health conditions, such as diabetics or those on blood thinners as well as those with food allergies. Facilities are also required to have qualified dieticians, doctors, dentists, nurses and attendants available for patients.

All nursing home facilities in Tennessee that are licensed by the Tennessee Health Board are further required to provide some kind of social interaction for their residents. This can mean games, entertainment and opportunities for exercise. Counseling must also be made available for nursing home residents that are in need. Those with emotional or mental problems are required to be granted access to special, individualized care. Residents of Memphis, TN nursing homes also have the right to visitation from loved ones, whether they are family or friends.

Staff members have no right to ever physically or emotionally lash out at a resident, no matter how frustrating a situation may be. Punishing residents through physical intimidation, forceful words, deprivation of care or denial of access to legal rights are all examples of abuse that should not be tolerated.

Memphis, TN nursing home residents should expect top quality care in their golden years. Residents in Tennessee have a right to privacy, dignity and respect and those facilities that fail to live up to these obligations should be held accountable. If you suspect that a loved one is suffering from nursing home abuse or neglect in Memphis, contact one of our nursing home abuse attorneys immediately. The experienced attorneys at Stroud, Flechas & Dalton have handled complicated cases of abuse and neglect before and will show your loved one the respect they deserve while helping to get justice through financial compensation.