You Trusted Them. They Broke That Trust.
Placing a mother, father, or spouse in a nursing home is one of the most heart-wrenching decisions a family ever makes. You do it because they need a level of medical care that you cannot provide at home. You trust the facility to treat them with dignity, hygiene, and respect.
When that trust is broken, the guilt can be overwhelming. But you need to know: it is not your fault. Nursing home abuse and neglect are systemic issues in Michigan, often driven by corporate greed, understaffing, and poor training. If you suspect your loved one is suffering, you need an advocate who can step in immediately to protect them. At Shiraz Law Firm, we aggressively pursue facilities that profit by cutting corners on patient care.
The "Silent" Signs of Neglect
Physical abuse is obvious, but *neglect* is often subtle and harder to prove. Facilities will often try to tell you that your loved one is just "getting older" or is "frail." Do not accept this explanation without digging deeper. Here are the red flags we look for:
- Bedsores (Pressure Ulcers): This is the #1 sign of neglect. In a properly staffed facility, bedsores are almost entirely preventable. If your loved one has a Stage 3 or Stage 4 bedsore, it usually means staff failed to turn or move them for hours at a time.
- Unexplained Falls: Facilities are required to have "fall risk" protocols. If your loved one is falling repeatedly, the facility is likely failing to use bed rails, alarms, or provide necessary assistance.
- Dehydration and Malnutrition: Rapid weight loss or cracked lips often mean staff are simply too busy (or too negligent) to ensure residents are actually eating and drinking.
Navigating Michigan's Nursing Home Laws
Michigan law provides specific rights to nursing home residents. However, proving a violation requires medical expertise. You cannot just argue that the care was "bad"; you must prove it violated the "standard of care."
This is why you need a specialized firm. Shiraz Law Firm works with medical experts to audit the facility's charts. We look for the "ghost staffing" (claiming staff were there when they weren't) and falsified medical logs. We know how to differentiate between natural aging and preventable suffering.
Protecting Your Family's Dignity
A lawsuit cannot undo the pain your loved one experienced, but it serves two vital purposes. First, it provides the funds needed to move them to a better, safer facility or pay for private nursing care. Second, it punishes the negligent facility, forcing them to change their policies so other families don't suffer the same fate.
If you have a gut feeling that something is wrong, listen to it. Contact Shiraz Law Firm for a confidential consultation. We will help you investigate the truth and fight for the dignity your family deserves.
