Nursing Home Regulations in Tennessee

If you have a family member living in a Tennessee nursing home, you expect them to receive the best care available. However, there can be times when Tennessee nursing home regulations get ignored. In this instance, your family member does not receive the care they deserve, and you may need to hire a nursing home abuse and neglect lawyer in Memphis to help them out. 

At Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi, PLC, we have many years of experience with nursing home abuse and neglect cases in Tennessee. If you are concerned that a family member is the victim of nursing home abuse and neglect in Tennessee, please reach out to us. Our Tennessee nursing home abuse and neglect lawyer can review your case right away.

What You Need to Know About Nursing Home Regulations in Tennessee

In Tennessee, the Department of Health’s Board for Licensing Health Care Facilities manages the licensing of assisted-care living facilities and residential homes for elderly individuals. The board treats every request for licensure seriously. If a nursing home is given a license but does not comply with state regulations, it can receive severe penalties. 

It is a nursing home’s responsibility to provide each resident with a quality level of care. Prior to relocating to a nursing home, this level of care must be defined for the resident and their family if they are handling this individual’s move-in. If you have a family member living at a Tennessee nursing home who may be the victim of abuse or neglect, you can file a complaint against the facility. 

Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi, PLC encourages you to file a complaint against any Tennessee nursing home that has staff in place that may be abusive or neglectful. We also urge you to connect with a Tennessee nursing home abuse and neglect attorney from our team. When you do, our attorney can take a look at your case and help you explore all of the legal options at your disposal. 

How the Process Works After You File a Tennessee Nursing Home Complaint

When you submit a complaint against a Tennessee nursing home, the Division of Health Care Facilities’ (DHCF) Centralized Complaint Intake Unit staff reviews it. Next, the complaint is given a priority code based on the alleged violation. From here, the complaint is forwarded to a regional office for investigation. 

Expect a letter to verify that your complaint has been received and is being investigated. If a regional office official has concerns or questions regarding your complaint, they will follow up with you. After a decision is made about your complaint, you will be notified as well. 

Along with filing a complaint regarding potential nursing home abuse or neglect, it is beneficial to seek legal help. You can hire a nursing home abuse and neglect lawyer in Tennessee that has a wealth of relevant legal experience. This attorney can answer your legal questions and make sure you get the help you need to pursue your complaint to the fullest extent. 

You May Receive One of Two Responses to a Nursing Home Complaint in Tennessee

There are two ways that the DHCF will respond to your nursing home complaint. DCHF officials will determine if a complaint is valid or not based on its investigation and any evidence that was collected during it. If a complaint is legitimate, DHCF may impose citations or penalties against the nursing home and its staff. 

Even if you file a complaint against a nursing home over abuse or neglect, there is no guarantee DHCF will find that it warrants any citations or penalties. Meanwhile, your family member may be the victim of abuse or neglect that continues for an extended period of time. In this scenario, you need to take action to ensure your loved one gets the help they need. 

When you have an experienced Tennessee attorney at your side, you can receive plenty of help with nursing home abuse and neglect that affects your family member. This attorney can help you navigate the legal system and ensure that your loved one gets the protection they need. On top of that, your attorney can help you request compensation on your family member’s behalf. 

What to Do If You Believe Your Family Member Is the Victim of Abuse or Neglect in a Tennessee Nursing Home

Do not let elder abuse in a Tennessee nursing home go unaddressed. If you suspect that a family member living in a Tennessee nursing home is the victim of abuse or neglect, report the issue to the proper authorities. You can also call 911 if you believe your family member’s health, safety, and well-being is in immediate danger. 

It is important to be able to see the signs of potential nursing home abuse and neglect as well. Your family member may experience any of the following issues if they are the victim of nursing home abuse and neglect:

• Dehydration
• Malnutrition
• Infections
• Unexplained weight loss
• Bed sores
• Bruising, cuts, or welts
• Broken bones

Keep track of any medical treatments that your family member living in a nursing home needs, as they may be related to abuse and neglect. You can hire an attorney that has handled many cases involving abuse and neglect in nursing homes. This attorney can help you achieve great case results and ensure that you receive compensation based on your loved one’s medical bills. 

Do Not Wait to Hire a Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Lawyer in Tennessee

By hiring a lawyer that specializes in abuse and neglect in Tennessee nursing homes, you can help your family member now and in the future. Your lawyer will commit the time, energy, and resources required to learn about your case. They can then craft a custom strategy to ensure you are well-equipped to secure compensation from any negligent parties. 

If your family member has been living in a Tennessee nursing home and continues to deal with costly medical bills as a result of prior abuse or neglect, your lawyer can assist. To do so, your attorney gets as much information as they can about these costs and any other harm that your loved one has incurred. They can then request a suitable amount of damages. 

The team at Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi, PLC can help you file a lawsuit against a Tennessee nursing home due to abuse or negligence. To learn more, please contact us today.