| Finding out that your loved one has been abused or | | | | one as a result of the abuse or neglect, you may have |
| neglected while in a nursing home is a devastated | | | | a reasonable lawsuit against the nursing home. A |
| feeling. Knowing that a patient is being abused or | | | | lawyer will be able to help you determine the extent of |
| neglected in a nursing home is something that no | | | | your case and will be able to answer any questions |
| employee should have to witness. However, nursing | | | | and concerns you have about the report or the |
| home negligence and abuse is happening more and | | | | complaint that you filed. |
| more often; but there is something you can do about | | | | Most complaints can be done in person or in writing. |
| the situation. You can report it. | | | | However, the state of North Carolina recommends |
| There are state agencies in the state of North | | | | that you make it in writing and keep a copy of the |
| Carolina such as the North Carolina Department of | | | | complaint or the report for your records. When writing |
| Health and Human Service and several social service | | | | your complaint, make sure that it contains the following |
| agencies in each county office. A nursing home | | | | information: your full name, address, phone number, and |
| complaint can be filed by anyone who witnesses, | | | | relationship to the resident(s) in question. The name and |
| suspects, or has a true knowledge of nursing home | | | | address of the nursing home facility should be included |
| abuse or neglect in the state of North Carolina. The | | | | as should the names or descriptions of the involved |
| complaint can be filed in regards staffing, treatment, | | | | staff. The date and time of the incident, the details of |
| care, safety, neglect, harm (unintentional), or abuse. | | | | the event(s), and the records that may need to be |
| However, the complaint should only be filed after all | | | | examined should also be included in nursing home |
| attempts of resolving the problem with the facility have | | | | complaints. Included all information that you have |
| been extinguished. The first thing to do is to talk to the | | | | regarding the abuse or negligence. |
| facility and see if there is something that can be done | | | | The state of North Carolina will begin the investigation |
| to stop the abuse or neglect. If they fail to respond to | | | | on your report within one to two weeks after it is filed. |
| the problem, then filing a report or a complaint with the | | | | You may also want to take pictures of your loved one |
| state would be the next step. | | | | to show the abuse or neglect. Sometimes, it may be |
| Once a report or a complaint is filed with the state | | | | hard to prove, but with a few pictures, you have a |
| agency, you may then want to consider hiring a lawyer | | | | better chance of proving that the abuse or neglect |
| to help you with your complaint or report. If harm such | | | | really did occur. |
| as pain, suffering, injury, or death resulted to your loved | | | | |