Do you have an aging relative who currently resides in a nursing home in Iowa? Did they recently suffer an injury and you believe it was at the expense of a negligent or inattentive nursing home staff member? If you answered yes, you are encouraged to contact Eells & Tronvold Law Offices, P.L.C. today to speak with an Iowa personal injury lawyer.
Our lawyers not only have the ability to get your loved one relocated into a new home if you haven’t already made alternate living arrangements for them, but we can also help you seek the justice your family member deserves for the suffering he or she has experienced as a result of the injuries they suffered. All you have to do is give us a call at 319-393-1020 to schedule an initial consultation where we can discuss with you the course of action we think would be best to take. Depending on what occurred and the extent of your relative’s injuries, it might be in your best interest to file a personal injury lawsuit against the facility in an effort to recover damages.
Damages is a legal term that is used to describe money that is awarded as a form of relief to victims of certain types of incidents. Two of the most commonly awarded damages in personal injury cases that your loved one may be entitled to receive include:
- Pain and suffering. Given that your relative sustained an injury, it is safe to say he or she likely suffered in some way. Whether they suffered physical and/or psychological injuries, he or she should be provided financial relief for this.
- Medical expenses. In the event your loved one needed medical treatment rendered for the injuries he or she suffered that wasn’t covered by their insurance, you are entitled to request that these expenses be paid on behalf of the party you are filing suit against.
Aside from obtaining legal counsel, you might also be considering reporting the nursing home to the appropriate agency to reduce the chances of others being mistreated in the same way your loved one was.
How do I report a nursing home in Iowa for elder mistreatment?
In order to report a nursing home in Iowa for elder abuse/mistreatment, you can contact the Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA), Health Facilities Division at (515) 281-4115. The Health Facilities Division serves as Iowa’s regulatory agency responsible for inspecting nursing home facilities. You also have the option of contacting your local Long-Term Care (LTC) Ombudsman. The LTC Ombudsman is available to accept complaints and assist with getting your issue resolved.
If you live in Linn County and want to report a nursing home for abuse or misconduct to your local the LTC Ombudsman program, it can be reached at (319) 541-0318 or (866) 236-1430. If your relative is staying in a nursing home outside of Linn County, click here to access a list of all the other counties located in the state of Iowa.
Now, as we explained above, you are going to want to sit down with a personal injury attorney so that you can become better informed on what your family member’s right are along with the legal actions you are permitted to take against the nursing home. If you are ready to schedule an initial consultation with our firm now, give us a call and we’d be happy to set up a time for you to come in.
You can reach Eells & Tronvold Law Offices, P.L.C. at:
1921 51st Street NE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
Phone: (319) 393-1020
Fax: (319) 393-4000
Website: www.eellsandtronvold.com
