All Nursing Homes Are Not The Same
The Way To Learn The Truth: Investigate
- Drop-in visits to see the patient
- Personal observations between patient and staff
- Checking the physical condition of patient (weight for possible malnutrition) for injuries, marks, bruises
- Checking the room for cleanliness including bed sheets and bathroom if appropriate
- Speaking to the patient about their stay at the home (if appropriate)
- Visiting public areas of the home (cafeteria, other public areas)
If there is any wrong doing, the staff may initially attempt to prevent the investigator from visiting but a good investigator knows how to gain information in a professional manner.
How Do I Find a Qualified Investigator
There are a lot of private investigators out there. Here are a few things you should consider when hiring someone to help you out with investigating the nursing home for your family.
- Licensed – Choose an investigator that is licensed.
- Reviews – A good investigator has testimonials; usually they are on their website.
- Variety – Look for an investigator with a variety of skills and investigation techniques as well as a variety of clients.
- Technology – Although you may not realize this important, a good investigator must have excellent technology skills to do their job. If he or she finds that there is neglect or abuse where your family member lives, there will be a need to gather more information and possibly work with an attorney and/or law enforcement.
- Court admissible evidence – A good investigator understands that what he or she collects may need to go before the court at some point.
- Fees & Expectations – Choose someone who explains their process clearly. You should understand what you will pay and how the process works.
Remember, the investigator is YOUR advocate; a person to help you protect your parents or loved ones. If you feel you may need an investigator, we recommend using Eagle Investigative Services. Eagle Investigative Services are licensed and have a wide array of clients. You can contact them directly at: Eagle Atlanta.
If someone you love is in a nursing home or other facility you are concerned about, contact us. Attorney David Crawford has the experience and knows exactly where to start. If the initial facts warrants further legal investigation, David and his team will gather information about the patient’s history so that he has a complete understanding of how, and when, this occurred. He will work with you and others to develop a detailed time line to understand what happened to your loved one, any warning signs that were ignored by the nursing home staff and what could have been done to avoid the problem. In essence, David will show you the negligent acts and omissions that may have occurred and help you understand the case prior to filing any lawsuit.
