San Antonio Personal Injury Lawyer Jorge Herrera Comments on Report About Nursing Home Neglect In Texas
San Antonio, TX (PRWEB) December 20, 2013 -- Commenting on a recent report suggesting that instances of nursing home neglect are on the rise throughout Texas, San Antonio nursing home abuse lawyer Jorge Herrera of The Herrera Law Firm said today that elder abuse in Texas cannot be tolerated and should be reported to authorities immediately.
According to KVUE (“Nursing home abuse and neglect on the rise in Texas,” November 7), the Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) reported that deficiencies involving Texas nursing homes rose from 14,215 to 15,113 between 2011 and 2012, including a 35 percent increase in “severe violations” that put patients in immediate danger.
“When we place a loved one in any type of assisted living facility, we expect that they will be safe and treated with dignity and respect,” said Herrera, who represents victims of negligence and families who lost loved ones in accidents. “As this troubling report suggests, that’s not always the case. In Texas, where nursing homes are large and profitable businesses, reports that neglect and abuse are on the rise are disturbing and discouraging.”
Herrera said families who suspect their loved ones have been neglected or abused should inform law enforcement immediately. He said they also should speak with an experienced attorney to learn about their rights.
The KVUE report documented one case in particular involving an elderly patient who was physically and verbally abused shortly before her death. According to KVUE, the nursing home facility where the abuse occurred was subject to 79 deficiencies or complaints, including a failure to “protect residents from mistreatment and neglect.”
Furthermore, KVUE reported that earlier this year, non-profit organization Families For Better Care released a state-by-state review of nursing home care that evaluated assisted living facilities based on Medicaid data that included staffing numbers, inspections, deficiencies and complaints. KVUE said that the state of Texas received a failing grade.
“Nursing homes and assisted living facilities have both a moral and legal obligation to provide a high standard of care for residents. Recent reports on nursing homes across the Lone Star State reveal a gap between that necessary standard of care and the amount of care that’s being provided,” said Herrera, a nursing home abuse lawyer in San Antonio.
Herrera said attorneys can help families of victims pursue compensation for their losses. He said a lawyer can help the family hold the responsible facility accountable and send a message that nursing home abuse and neglect will not be tolerated in Texas.
About The Herrera Law Firm, Inc.
Founded in 1983, The Herrera Law Firm, Inc., has successfully represented thousands of individuals and families who have been dealt catastrophic blows due to personal injuries from nursing home abuse and neglect, oil field accidents, car accidents, tractor-trailer truck accidents, construction accidents, workplace injuries, dangerous drugs and defective medical device injuries. The law firm’s mission is to rectify the wrongs committed against its clients so that they can regain their dignity, rebuild their lives, and reclaim financial stability. The Herrera Law Firm, Inc. is located at 111 Soledad St., Suite 1900, San Antonio, TX 78205. If you or a loved one was injured, or you lost a loved one in an accident and need legal help, call (800) 455-1054 or visit http://www.herreralaw.com.
Jacob M Del Hagen, Big Voodoo Interactive, http://www.bigvoodoo.com, +1 (413) 650-0593, [email protected]
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