Assisted Living Abuse Attorneys in Albuquerque

What Is an Assisted Living Facility?

Many people use the terms “nursing homes,” “assisted living facilities,” and “group homes” interchangeably, but each type of facility has key differences. Nursing homes are facilities designed to provide 24/7 life and medical support to residents, while assisted living facilities and group homes are both more geared toward residents who have some level of independence.

When an individual lives in an assisted living facility, they will likely be one of many residents (sometimes up to 80 or more) in the facility. These facilities often give each resident an individual apartment in which they can live with only some level of assistance with daily activities and health issues. The staff at an assisted living facility is typically a mix of medical personnel and non-medical caregivers.

What Are the Risk Factors That Can Contribute to Abuse or Neglect at an Assisted Living Facility in New Mexico?

Mistreatment and dangerous situations in assisted living facilities can occur for a variety of reasons. You must make every effort to look out for red flags that could put your loved one at a greater risk of suffering abuse. In some cases, you may be able to remove your loved one from an assisted living facility or group home before any abuse occurs.

Risk factors that may raise the likelihood of Albuquerque assisted living facility abuse include:

• A lack of supervision
• A lack of facility maintenance
• An overworked and/or underpaid staff
• Poorly trained staff
• High staff turnover rates
• Minimal administrative oversight
• Failures to conduct background checks or verify qualifications when hiring staff

What Are the Signs of Assisted Living Facility Abuse?

You should not assume a loved one living at an assisted living facility will be forthright about any problems they are experiencing. Your loved one may not be comfortable explaining or be unable to explain the abuse. Checking in and visiting frequently can help both reduce the risk of abuse and make your loved one more likely to communicate when something is wrong. 

There are other signs that your loved one may be suffering from some form of abuse at an assisted living facility, including:

• Pressure sores
• Broken bones (and other fall-related injuries)
• Malnutrition
• Dehydration
• Medication errors
• Lack of personal hygiene
• Unexplained changes in personality
• Damaged or missing clothing or personal items

How Do You Report Assisted Living Facility Abuse in New Mexico?

If there is evidence your loved one is being abused at an assisted living facility, many resources are available to you and your family. You should not wait to contact the New Mexico Department of Health. 

The number you should call will depend on who you believe is responsible for the abuse:

• Dial 1-800-752-8659 if you suspect an employee of the assisted living facility or someone under the supervision of the assisted living facility (such as a vendor or another resident) is abusing your loved one
• Dial 1-866-654-3219 if you suspect a non-employee or anyone who is not under the supervision of the assisted living facility is abusing your loved one

Then, get in touch with the Harvey, Foote & Baker Law Firm. Our attorneys understand what you are going through and can walk you through the process of filing a formal complaint. We can then review your legal options for holding the responsible parties accountable.

Who Is Responsible for Abuse or Neglect in a New Mexico Assisted Living Facility?

The individual responsible for the abuse, whether they be a resident, a staff member, a visitor, or some other party, is generally liable for any damages their abusive behavior causes. If the assisted living facility knew about the abuse but failed to take steps to address it (or actively attempted to cover it up), they can also be held accountable through legal action. The facility may also be legally responsible if they, through their negligence, created a situation in which abuse could occur. For example, if an assisted living facility failed to conduct background checks and an employee who should not have been hired subsequently abused a resident, the family of that resident would likely have a strong case against both the employee and the facility. 

Our attorneys will help you determine who can be held liable for Albuquerque assisted living facility abuse. We have a proven track record of successfully identifying responsible parties and recovering compensation for our clients.

We invite you to talk to us about your concerns if you are worried about your loved one in an assisted living facility. Call (505) 295-2245 or contact us online to learn more about how we handle these cases.