A Midwest City nursing home abuse lawyer helps families hold a negligent or abusive care facility accountable. Oklahoma’s Nursing Home Care Act makes a facility’s owner and licensee liable for any act or omission that injures a resident (63 O.S. § 1-1939), and most claims must be filed within two years (12 O.S. § 95).
Signs of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
Mistreatment in a care facility does not always leave an obvious mark. Watch for pressure ulcers (bedsores), sudden weight loss or dehydration, unexplained bruises or fractures, repeated falls, and missed or incorrect medications. Emotional withdrawal, fearfulness around a particular staff member, or reluctance to speak openly during a visit can signal abuse that leaves no physical trace.
Financial exploitation is common too. Watch a loved one’s accounts for unauthorized withdrawals, missing property, or sudden changes to a will or beneficiary designation.
Who Can Be Held Liable, and Where a Lawsuit Is Filed
Oklahoma’s Nursing Home Care Act makes a facility’s owner and licensee liable for any intentional or negligent act or omission by staff that injures a resident. It also voids any attempt to make a resident waive that right. A facility cannot retaliate against a resident, family member, or employee for reporting suspected abuse.
Midwest City sits in Oklahoma County. A lawsuit against a Midwest City facility is typically filed in the Oklahoma County District Court in downtown Oklahoma City, not in a neighboring county’s court.
Checking a Facility’s Record and Reporting Abuse
Every nursing home in Midwest City is licensed and inspected by the Oklahoma State Department of Health. A facility’s survey findings and violation history are searchable through the federal government’s nursing home certification and compliance records, which is worth reviewing before or after a loved one moves in.
If you suspect abuse, contact Adult Protective Services, or call law enforcement if a resident is in immediate danger. Our walkthrough of when and how to report suspected mistreatment covers who investigates what. The National Center on Elder Abuse also has resources for families still sorting out what they are seeing.
How Long You Have to File a Claim
Most Oklahoma nursing home injury claims must be filed within two years of the injury under 12 O.S. § 95. Facility records, staffing logs, and video footage are far easier to obtain soon after an incident than they are later. Once a facility senses a claim coming, those records have a way of disappearing, so it is worth talking to an attorney as soon as you suspect a problem.
Talk to a Midwest City Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
If you suspect a loved one is being neglected or mistreated, Hasbrook & Hasbrook can review the facility’s records and explain your options at no cost. Call 405-605-2426 or arrange a free consultation about your loved one’s care. We also represent families through an injury lawyer based in Midwest City and the Oklahoma City team handling nursing home abuse claims.
