In many cases, it is necessary for residents of Michigan to seek care for their loved ones at nursing home facilities. When a family entrusts the care of their loved one to the employees of nursing homes, it is expected that their loved one will be treated with dignity and respect. Unfortunately, a recent report of nursing home abuse prompted Michigan state investigators to examine incidences of patient mistreatment.
Authorities in Michigan were investigating alleged claims of verbal and physical abuse by certified nurse aides at the facility, which included claims of broken bones, bruises and skin abrasions. Investigators determined that the facility allegedly failed to report abuse allegations. Also, patients were supposedly subjected to the possibility of harm or were actually harmed by the nurse aides.
In one reported incident, a patient suffered a broken thigh bone from one of the accused aides, but the facility did not investigate, nor was the incident reported as required. Other facility employees accused another aide of roughly restraining a patient, using a racial slur and telling the patient that the color of his skin would prevent a bruise from showing. While both aides were fired from their positions, they are eligible to be employed elsewhere because the ability to end their careers requires a substantial amount of proof of abuse.
Like all Michigan residents, those who reside in nursing home facilities deserve to be free of any type of abuse. When claims of nursing home abuse go unreported, it is the patients that ultimately suffer. Families of individuals like those in the report whose loved one have suffered from nursing home abuse may be able to file a civil claim against the nurse or the facility for the injuries that their loved ones may have suffered.
Source: WOODTV.com, "State: Nursing home failed to report alleged abuse", Ken Kolker Panel: Baker, May 21, 2014
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