Why It's Important To Get Your Parent To Go On The Record Promptly About Nursing Home Abuse
Posted on: 26 December 2018
As soon as you notice signs of your elderly parent going through abuse at a nursing home, you need to be prepared to act quickly. Getting your parent out of that dangerous environment should be your first priority, followed by contacting a nursing home abuse attorney. Another top priority is to get your parent to go on the record about the abuse as quickly as possible. Generally, this will involve giving a videotaped statement and/or answering a series of questions in the attorney's office. Here are some reasons that this quick action is important.
Memory Issues Could Be A Factor
There are lots of reasons that elderly people live in nursing homes, including issues with dementia and other conditions that affect the memory. The longer that you wait before having your parent go on the record about the abuse he or she has experienced, the less he or she could remember. A victim statement that isn't highly specific, or in which the person appears to be forgetful, lacks impact and can make your legal case difficult. If you can sit down with the attorney quickly, it's more likely that your parent will be able to recall what he or she went through.
He/She Might Not Want To Talk About It
Lots of elderly people believe in not talking about things that are upsetting, and nursing home abuse certainly falls into this category. If you've noticed your parent sometimes taking the stance of not wanting to discuss uncomfortable subject matter, you need to get him or her in front of an attorney as quickly as possible. The longer that you go, the less willing your parent might be to speak about his or her ordeal. Conversely, if your parent is upset about a recent incident of abuse, he or she may be keener to answer questions about it.
An Employee Might Threaten Your Parent
Ideally, you'll have your parent out of the nursing home immediately, but this might not always be possible. If you unfortunately have to keep your parent in the home for a few days while you make alternative living arrangements for him or her, it's possible for a nursing home staff member to threaten your loved one about talking. If the offending employee gets a sense that you might be aware of the abuse and are thus likely talking to an attorney, he or she may attempt to coerce your parent into staying silent.
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