Losing an elderly loved one in a nursing home is heartbreaking, especially when you suspect their death could have been prevented. Many families in Salt Lake City and surrounding areas struggle with guilt and uncertainty when they believe nursing home negligence contributed to their loved one’s death. This guide will help you understand what to do if you find yourself in this difficult situation.
Warning Signs of Nursing Home Negligence
Before we had to move my own grandmother from her home in Sugar House to a nursing facility, I learned how important it is to recognize signs of neglect. In Salt Lake City’s nursing homes, several common problems can lead to death:
Bedsores tell us your loved one wasn’t moved often enough. These painful sores shouldn’t happen when proper care is given. If your family member developed severe bedsores at their facility in Holladay or Murray, this might signal serious neglect.
Falls often happen because of poor supervision or understaffing. Maybe your loved one fell several times at their Sandy facility before a final, fatal fall. This pattern suggests the nursing home might not have provided proper care or safety measures.
Medication errors occur more often than we’d like to think. Your mother’s memory care unit in Millcreek might have given her the wrong medicine or missed important doses. These mistakes can have deadly consequences.
What to Do First
If your loved one has died and you suspect nursing home negligence, take these important steps:
First, request the full medical record. Every Salt Lake City area nursing home must give you these records when you properly request them. Don’t let them tell you otherwise. Get everything – medication logs, daily care notes, incident reports, and hospital transfer records.
Next, secure any evidence you already have. Those photos you took of concerning bruises during visits to the West Valley City facility? Save them. The emails you sent complaining about poor care to the Murray nursing home administrator? Keep copies. Your own notes about problems you noticed? Don’t throw them away.
Understanding Your Rights
Utah law protects families when nursing home negligence leads to death. You might hear from the nursing home that your elderly parent’s death was “natural” or “expected.” But age alone doesn’t excuse poor care that leads to death.
For example, if your father lived at a memory care center in Cottonwood Heights and wandered away in freezing weather because staff didn’t monitor him properly, that’s negligence – even if he had dementia. If your mother died from dehydration at her Taylorsville facility because staff didn’t ensure she drank enough water, that’s negligence – even if she was elderly.
Important Deadlines
Don’t wait too long to investigate your suspicions. Utah gives families limited time to file legal claims after a nursing home death. While you have two years in most cases, starting an investigation early helps preserve important evidence.
Nursing homes know this. That’s why they sometimes quickly change records or policies after a death. Staff members find new jobs and become hard to locate. The sooner you act, the better chance you have of discovering what really happened.
Investigating the Death
A proper investigation looks at many factors:
We examine staffing levels when the death occurred. Was the Bountiful facility running with half the needed staff on that night shift? We can find out.
We review training records. Did the Medicare-certified facility in downtown Salt Lake City properly train their staff? Often we discover they cut corners on training to save money.
We look at state inspection reports. Many local facilities have histories of similar problems. If a Murray nursing home had previous citations for medication errors before your loved one died from a medication mistake, this strengthens your case.
Getting Answers
Nursing homes rarely admit fault when a resident dies. They have lawyers and insurance companies protecting them. But our experience investigating Salt Lake Valley nursing home deaths helps us uncover the truth.
We know where to look for evidence of neglect. We understand how local nursing homes operate and what records they must keep. Our network includes medical experts who review cases and explain how proper care would have prevented death.
The Investigation Process
When we investigate a nursing home death, we take careful steps to uncover what happened:
First, we gather every record about your loved one’s care. Salt Lake City nursing homes must document everything – or explain why they didn’t. Missing documentation often signals problems.
We talk with former employees when possible. Sometimes staff members who quit over poor conditions help us understand what really happened. We’ve had certified nursing assistants from facilities throughout the valley step forward to expose dangerous practices.
We consult medical experts who understand nursing home care. They review records and explain whether proper care would have prevented the death.
Supporting Your Family
We understand you’re grieving while trying to get answers. That’s why we handle the investigation and legal process while you focus on your family. We keep you informed but lift the burden of dealing with the nursing home from your shoulders.
Taking Action Today
If you suspect nursing home negligence caused your loved one’s death in Salt Lake City or surrounding communities, let us help you uncover the truth. We offer:
A free, private consultation to discuss your concerns Clear explanations of your legal options A thorough investigation of what happened Regular updates on our findings No fee unless we win your case
Don’t let nursing homes avoid responsibility for negligent care. Contact us today to learn how we can help your family get answers and justice for your loved one.
Disclaimer: This information helps Salt Lake City families understand their rights after a nursing home death but isn’t legal advice. Every situation is different. Please talk with a qualified attorney about your specific case.
