Oklahoma Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect FAQs
What are the rights of Oklahoma nursing home residents?
A resident in a nursing home that participates in the Medicare program has the right, under statute, to be free from verbal, sexual, physical and mental abuse, and any physical or chemical restraint that is imposed for purposes of discipline or convenience, rather than to treat a medical condition. Restraints may be used only upon the written order of a doctor who specifies the situation under which the restraints are to be used. If a nursing home is not regulated by federal statute, its residents will still have rights under state laws, which may vary from state to state.
What is nursing home abuse?
Nursing home abuse includes any mistreatment of an elder, whether it is physical or verbal including but not limited to punches, kicks, insults, restraints, deprivation, over medication, under medication, lack of socialization activities, and monetary theft.
What is nursing home neglect?
Nursing home negligence includes any occasion in which an elder fails to receive proper medical care, nutrition, socialization, hygienic care, or other types of mandatory care.
How common is this type of abuse?
Approximately 1.6 million Americans live in nursing home or elder care facilities in the U.S. and up to one-third of the facilities have been cited for abuse or neglect. Despite laws that protect elders from such mistreatment, the number of violations is only expected to increase in the future.
What constitutes "exploitation" in a Oklahoma nursing home?
Many states define exploitation as the wrongful use of an elder's resources for another person's profit or advantage. Some definitions may refer to the misuse of the elder's funds or property, while some states specify that resources must have been obtained without the elder's consent or obtained through undue persuasion, coercion, deception or false pretenses.
What are some signs of financial abuse?
Signs of financial abuse include:
- Large withdrawals or a disappearance of funds from the elder's banking or investment accounts
- Changing bank accounts
- Newly hired attorneys or accountants that replaced the elder's long time professional relationships for no valid reason
- New friends who allegedly help or advise the elder but, who are unfamiliar to the elder's family
- Family members or close friends who previously had little contact with the elder
- Unexpected changes in wills or trusts
- Large purchases of goods or services that are not needed by the elder
- Care givers who prevent or discourage communications to family members
- Reports of lost or missing property
- Transfer of property and assets to care givers or friends
- Use of the elder's ATM cards, checking accounts, savings accounts, or credit cards by other individuals
- Loans or investments with care givers or family members that are not commercially reasonable
We can handle your potential legal case if you are in any of these Oklahoma cities. Even if your city is not listed you may still speak with one of our Oklahoma nursing home abuse attorneys by filling out our contact form or calling us toll-free at 1 (866) 664-0400.
Ada, Afton, Altus, Alva, Anadarko, Ardmore, Atoka, Bartlesville, Blackwell, Broken Arrow, Catoosa, Chandler, Checotah, Chickasha, Claremore, Clinton, Del City, Duncan, Durant, Edmond, El Reno, Elk City, Enid, Erick, Frederick, Glenpool, Grove, Guthrie, Guymon, Henryetta, Idabel, Lawton, Locust Grove, Mcalester, Miami, Midwest City, Moore, Muskogee, Norman, Oklahoma City, Okmulgee, Owasso, Pauls Valley, Perry, Ponca City, Poteau, Pryor, Roland, Sallisaw, Sand Springs, Savanna, Shawnee, Stillwater, Stilwell, Stroud, Tahlequah, Tulsa, Vinita, Wagoner, Weatherford, Woodward, Yukon
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