As the population of elderly people has increased, the Oklahoma and Arkansas nursing home and assisted living industry continues to overbuild in anticipation of the need for elder care.
This has resulted in competition among owners of such facilities to fill their beds and cut back on care to make a profit. Unfortunately, it has led to poor care in Oklahoma and Arkansas nursing homes, as well as improper admissions to assisted living when the resident really needs a higher level of care.
In nursing homes, abuse and neglect can happen to any resident. However, it typically occurs to residents who do not have the physical or mental ability to voice any complaints to family, friends or nursing care staff. Nursing home abuse in Arkansas and Oklahoma is an intentional or negligent infliction of injury, confinement, intimidation that results in physical or mental harm.
Signs of physical abuse include unexplained bruising, skin tears or damage, fractures and other similar types of unexplained or unusual injuries. Nursing home neglect occurs when the nursing home staff fails to provide care necessary to keep the resident safe from physical harm. Neglect can cause bedsores, dehydration, malnutrition, injuries from the use of restraints, as well as injuries as a result of the resident wandering away from the facility due to improper supervision. Additionally, residents who have been neglected in terms of having their conditions adequately assessed by nursing staff can often result in falls and fractures and can ultimately lead to death.
Assisted living facilities in Oklahoma and Arkansas are prohibited by regulation from accepting or keeping residents who need more care and supervision than an assisted living environment can provide. If assisted living facilities violate those regulations and the resident becomes injured, the facility may be responsible.
Each Oklahoma and Arkansas nursing home lawyer at Carr and Carr Attorneys understands that it is a very difficult time for families whenever their loved one is hurt in a nursing home or assisted living facility and suffers a decline in health due to injury or even suffers an early death.
If you suspect your loved one has been abused or neglected in a nursing home or is injured in an assisted living facility, contact the Oklahoma and Arkansas nursing home lawyers at Carr and Carr Attorneys. With offices in Tulsa and Oklahoma City, as well as Springdale, Arkansas, we are committed to helping you find answers so that you can have the peace of mind of knowing what actually happened to your loved one and what you can do about elder abuse.
Please contact the Oklahoma and Arkansas nursing home abuse and neglect lawyers at Carr and Carr Attorneys for a free, no-obligation consultation.
