On June 18, 2008, a Senate committee was due to hear from the family of William Kurth who died in a nursing home in Wisconsin.  Mr. Kurth had fractured his hip and leg and succumbed to infections that occurred because feces and urine were not cleaned from his bedsores for days at a time.  When the Kurths attempted to sue the nursing home for neglect, the case was dismissed due to the fact that Mrs. Kurth had agreed that all complaints would go through an arbitrator as part of her husband’s admission to the nursing home.

            One of the saddest and most difficult decisions we have to make in this life is how to care for our parents or spouses when they can’t take care of themselves.  Often, there is no alternative but to place them in a nursing home.  Most nursing homes are diligent and have the best interests of our elderly at heart.  However, some of these facilities care only about the almighty dollar.  Some do not sufficiently screen the personnel they hire. Should you really have to worry about whether you can sue the nursing home for neglect before signing on the dotted line?  Everything may look fine when you visit but what really goes on after you leave?  Is your elderly relative really receiving the care and treatment they need and deserve?  Do they have bedsores, cuts or bruises?  Are they losing weight?  Do personal items seem to disappear?

            If  you have answered yes to any of these questions, you may need to speak with an attorney experienced in nursing home neglect and abuse cases. 

            Over the past few years, some real horror stories about nursing homes have been featured on the evening news such as patients falling on their way to the bathroom after having their requests for help ignored, patients being dropped or not being kept clean and, even worse, physical abuse by staff members. 

            Fortunately, there is a place to turn for help.  If you have a relative that you feel is being neglected or abused, I invite you to visit my website at www.dreamlegalteam.com.

Please feel free to fill out an on-line consultation form or engage in a free webchat.  You know that your parents deserve the best care possible.  Make sure they are getting it!

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