Residents of long-term care facilities in the Hoosier State are entitled to certain standards of care. One of these Indiana nursing home resident rights is to receive dignity, respect, and privacy at all times. However, it seems staff members at many facilities fail to meet this particular standard of treatment.
One way patients’ rights to privacy are being violated is by staff members posting degrading and embarrassing images of nursing home residents on social media networks. Sources say that as many as 35 such cases of nursing home abuse have been identified nationwide since 2012.
An article from The Washington Post highlights one of these cases, in which a former nursing assistant at an Indiana nursing home was convicted of posting a nude photo of a resident to a website. Even more disturbing, is the fact that the caregiver showed no signs of remorse when asked about the situation.
So what is being done to protect patients from this particular type of nursing home abuse? The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the organization that regulates the operations of nursing homes in our country, is working to update the laws that outline patient care policies.
Until such changes are enacted, the Indianapolis personal injury lawyers at Stewart & Stewart Attorneys suggest families of nursing home residents closely monitor their loved ones for signs of abuse. If you suspect your loved one isn’t receiving adequate care, don’t hesitate to report your suspicions to the proper authorities. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.