Given the number of older people who have encountered the need to move into assisted living centers or to acquire in-home care so that their daily needs can be met and so that they can be kept safe, more and more problems have arisen with regards to issues that include nursing home abuse and nursing home neglect. The federal government has recognized this growing issue and it has enacted legislation that helps to provide those who are being mistreated with an outlet to have their situations resolved. This program is active in every state including Nevada. In Nevada, the program is called the Nevada Long Term Ombudsmen Program, and below you will find a brief overview of how it works, what types of situations they help to handle and what residents who are being mistreated can do to enforce their legal rights. Anyone who is being mistreated in an assisted living center in any way needs to obtain the advice of experienced Las Vegas nursing home abuse lawyers as soon as possible as they look to protect themselves from additional harm.
THE NEVADA LONG TERM CARE OMBUDSMEN PROGRAM (LTCOP)
The Nevada Long Term Care Ombudsmen Program was established by a mandate that was set out in a federal law known as the Older Americans Act. This law required every state to put this program in place so that someone could serve as an advocate for residents who are living in assisted living facilities and for those who are receiving in-home care. In Nevada, the person who serves in this role is known as the Elder Rights Advocate, and he or she handles many functions that deal with alleged mistreatment and generally substandard care that's provided by facilities and staff members. The Elder Rights Advocate will field inquiries and complaints from both residents and their family members and friends when concerns arise. This person is supposed to gather information with an impartial approach and support that resident when wrongdoing is uncovered. This program is available to anyone who is receiving these types of services who is over the age of 60, and Elder Rights Advocates are supposed to work with the facilities to resolve problems that arise and help to make sure that whatever was happening in terms of mistreatment no longer takes place. Complaints and inquiries are supposed to be kept confidential for the benefit of residents who may be concerned about backlash.
LAS VEGAS NURSING HOME ABUSE LAWYERS
While Elder Rights Advocates serve an important function, they do not have the power to hold facilities accountable when they are not treating a resident properly. Therefore, people who have been mistreated need to seek the help of Las Vegas nursing home abuse lawyers who can help them pursue legal remedies that will compensate them for the harm they have suffered. If this includes you or someone you love, contact High Stakes Injury Law today to schedule a free initial consultation.