If You Suspect Abuse In A Nursing Home
Though as lawyers, our Tennessee nursing home attorneys at The Higgins Firm reduce nursing home abuse in the State of Tennessee through litigation, there are many ways you can help reduce the occurrence of Nashville nursing home abuse without the need of our qualified Nashville nursing home lawyers.
Often, legal action will be your last recourse and reserved for serious forms of abuse in a Nashville nursing home, such as bedsores, broken bones form falls, and death. It is always best to try to prevent these nursing home injuries from ever occurring. What follows are some nursing home abuse & neglect prevention tips from our nursing home abuse attorneys.
Reduce chances of nursing home abuse
Nursing home malpractice is more likely to occur when staff feels that it can cut corners. One of the simplest methods of reducing the chances of nursing home abuse is to make frequent visits through different periods of the day.
It is best to visit a nursing home during the morning, afternoon, and night on different days and weekends. If you can stop by the Nashville nursing home during holidays, before you go to work, or during your lunch, do so. You may find a different quality of care given by nursing home staff during different shifts or during hours which are not considered “peak hours” for the Nashville nursing home.
If you suspect abuse or negligence by the nursing home, do not be afraid to question the nursing home staff about things you think may be wrong with your elderly loved one’s nursing home care–even if you think they might be a responsible party. Questions both show your attentiveness and may also lead to more serious conditions being discussed. As with most situations, it is not simply an “us” versus a “them”. Many members of the nursing home staff may just be waiting to speak out about a few bad practices.
Notify your Nashville, TN nursing home authorities
Tennessee, like all states, has a division of the U.S. Department of Health which regulates nursing homes. In Tennessee, this agency which certifies nursing homes and investigates complaints is the Tennessee Board of Nursing Home Administrators.
If you believe your elderly loved one in a Nashville nursing home has suffered neglect or abuse, you should file with the Tennessee Board of Nursing Home Administrators who may issue citations against the nursing home and impose fines until the nursing home improves its act and complies with the law.
Other Tennessee nursing agencies include:
- Tennessee Adult Protect Services (APS) at 1-888-APS-TENN1-888-APS-TENN
- Knoxville, TN APS at (865) 594-5685(865) 594-5685
- Chattanooga, TN APS at (423) 634-6624(423) 634-6624
- Nashville, TN APS at (615) 532-3492(615) 532-3492
- Tennessee Ombudsman at 532-1572 for Nashville-area nursing home abuse
- Tennessee Ombudsman at (800) 264-0904(800) 264-0904 for nursing home abuse outside the Nashville area
- Tennessee Department of Health at 1-800-778-45041-800-778-4504
Please note that Tennessee nursing home law requires all capable persons to report suspected nursing home abuse. Many of the above agencies are available 24 hours or will respond to you within one business day after you record a message.
Contact us online or call us at 800.705.2121 to set up a FREE consultation to discuss your legal options.
Author Bio
Jim Higgins, founder of the Higgins Firm, is a seasoned personal injury attorney with deep roots in Nashville, Tennessee. A 4th generation Nashvillian, Jim carries on the legal legacy of his father, a judge for over 30 years. After graduating from the University of Memphis School of Law, Jim’s career began on the other side of the courtroom, defending insurance companies and learning their tactics for minimizing settlements. However, he soon realized his true calling was fighting for the rights of the injured, and for the past several years, he has exclusively represented plaintiffs in personal injury cases.
Since then, his dedication and skill have earned him membership in the prestigious Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an organization limited to attorneys who have secured million and multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements for their clients. Licensed to practice in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Georgia, Jim focuses on personal injury, product liability, medical malpractice, and workers’ compensation cases. His exceptional work has been recognized by his peers, earning him a spot on the Super Lawyers list from 2021 to 2024, a distinction awarded to only a select group of accomplished attorneys in each state.
