Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect

I’m helping my uncle find a good nursing home in Kentucky. I’ve gotten copies of inspection records for a number of facilities, and I’m a little confused about the terminology. What’s the difference between “Quality of Care” and “Quality of Life”?

“Quality of Care” and “Quality of Life” are two of the three most commonly cited abuse-related deficiencies on nursing home inspection reports, the third being...

My elderly mother, who lives in Kentucky, prides herself on still driving at 75 years old. She’s always been fiercely independent. Lately, though, I get nervous when I’m a passenger in her car. She makes turns and merges at times that are, frankly, dangerous. When should I insist that she stop driving herself?

My elderly mother, who lives in Kentucky, prides herself on still driving at 75 years old. She’s always been fiercely independent. Lately, though, I get...

I believe that my parent was abused in a Louisville nursing home and that is why s/he is being transferred to an area hospital. Can my parent see a doctor who is independent of the nursing home or does s/he need to be treated by a nursing home doctor?

It is understandable that you are reluctant to have your parent’s injuries treated by a nursing home doctor. While many doctors are ethical and will...

My mother was neglected and injured in her Louisville nursing home after a holiday weekend. The regular staff was out and the facility was staffed by temporary workers. Does my mother have any legal rights?

Yes, your mother may have the legal right to a recovery if nursing home negligence resulted in her injury. Louisville nursing homes, like all Kentucky...

My sister is living in a nursing home outside Louisville. Lately when I’ve visited her, she seems “out of it”—like she’s drugged. I’ve asked her caregivers about it, and they say it’s probably just the pills she’s taking for her dementia, but none of her medications has ever affected her like that. Does it make sense for me to get a lawyer?

I would! The staff may be giving her something to keep her from being too much of a bother to them. If you are considering...

My aunt is in a Kentucky nursing home. I’m comfortable that she is not being abused or neglected, but some of her more valuable items seem to be disappearing. When I write out my letter of complaint, do I term this “abuse”?

The correct term for what you suspect is exploitation. It refers to taking or using someone else’s belongings—such as money, assets, or property—without the owner’s...