Worried about someone in a Mesa nursing home: who can help, and what to do first

Who do I call about a nursing home in Mesa?

Asking for help does not take proof. It is enough to be worried. These are the people whose job it is to listen, and you can call more than one.

Ombudsmen make routine visits to talk with residents about their rights and concerns, so asking for one to stop by is a gentle first step. Your loved one's wishes matter here. We could not confirm a current count of nursing homes in Mesa or a list of their inspection results, so look up the specific home by name.

What are warning signs of neglect in a Mesa nursing home?

Trust what you notice. Families often sense a change before anyone says a word. Federal rules give residents a clear baseline.

• New pressure sores. These should not develop unless the person's medical condition made them unavoidable.
• Repeated falls or unexplained bruises. A home must give each resident enough supervision and safety devices to prevent accidents.
• Fear of one staff member, or sudden silence when that person enters.
• Sudden weight loss or dehydration, or missing money and belongings.

A resident has a right to live free of abuse and neglect. When abuse or serious injury is alleged, the home must report it within 2 hours. You can ask whether that report was made.

What should our family do this week?

1. Visit at different hours if you can. Write down what you see, with dates and names.
2. Take gentle, respectful photos of wounds, with your loved one's permission when possible.
3. Ask for the records. A resident has the right to access them within 24 hours, not counting weekends and holidays, and to get copies with 2 working days' notice.
4. Ask to see the latest inspection results, which a home must make available. You can also ask for the full survey or the last complaint report.
5. Note the license. State law requires a nursing home to post it where people can see it.
6. If your loved one needs a hospital, Banner Desert, 1400 S. Dobson Rd., holds Level I trauma status in Mesa. Banner charts for your loved one come from MRO Patient Central.

Medicare's star ratings cover inspections, staffing and quality, and they give you a place to compare homes. They are only a starting point, and they cannot tell you what happened to the person you love.

What rights does a Mesa family have under Arizona law?

Arizona has a law written for this situation. A vulnerable adult who is harmed may sue a person or enterprise that was employed to provide care. Courts look for four things: a vulnerable adult, an injury, abuse and a caregiver. Abuse here includes injury caused by negligent acts or omissions.

The time limit is 2 years after actual discovery of the claim. The attorney general must get notice within 30 days after the case is filed. There is no cap on damages in Arizona.

A rare few homes are run by a public agency. If that is true here, a claim is due in 180 days. Ask who runs the home.

Did we sign away our rights at the Mesa nursing home?

Maybe not. A home must not require arbitration as a condition of admission or continued care. If you or your loved one signed one, there are 30 calendar days to cancel it. An Arizona appeals court has also held that a resident's agreement does not bind family members' own wrongful death claims. Please do not throw away the admission packet. Keep every page.

What happens if my loved one died in a Mesa nursing home?

We are so sorry. Nothing here needs to be done today, but a few steps can help later. The vulnerable adult claim is not ended by the person's death. Records are kept six years after discharge in Arizona.

If you have questions about how your loved one died, the Maricopa County Medical Examiner's investigators are available around the clock at 602-506-1138. Copies of certificates can come through the East Valley vital records office, 331 E. Coury Avenue, Mesa. The Clerk's probate counter is at 222 E. Javelina in Mesa, but staff there cannot give legal advice.

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