Hackensack Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

The number of cases involving abuse and neglect in nursing facilities throughout New Jersey has risen substantially over the last few years.

Our legal team has handled many mistreatment cases as per their legal duty. Some of these cases involved New Jersey residents who suffered physical, emotional, sexual, and mental injuries caused by their caregivers.

Was your loved one injured through nursing home abuse and neglect or suffered a preventable wrongful death? If so, the affiliate New Jersey personal injury attorneys at Nursing Home Law Center LLC are ready to aggressively fight to obtain the financial compensation and justice your family deserves.

Contact our Hackensack nursing home abuse lawyers today at (800) 926-7565 to schedule a free consultation to ensure your loved one's best interests. All confidential information you share with your legal team remains private through an attorney-client relationship.

Elder abuse, or the abuse of older people, is a repeated or single act of harm that causes injury or distress to an older person. It can take many forms, including physical, emotional, sexual, financial, and neglect. Some physically dependent people can become a victim from their perpetrators under these same forms of abuse or neglect.

Nursing home abuse is a specific type of elder abuse in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and other long-term care settings. Residents in these facilities are vulnerable to abuse by the nursing home staff and fellow residents.

Besides bodily and psychological harm, neglect, medical malpractice, and the inability to provide quality care are also forms of nursing home abuse.

According to the WHO (World Health Organization), one out of six people 60 years or older experience abuse in a community setting. However, abuse rates are higher in residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. Two out of three nursing home staff members report committing abuse in the past year.

Since nursing home neglect and abuse are common, it's essential to be aware of the signs of such treatment. Unfortunately, signs and symptoms of nursing home abuse can be challenging to identify because many residents cannot communicate what is happening to them.

Meanwhile, others may be scared or reluctant to report abuse because they depend on the staff at the nursing home facility for all their needs. However, some common signs may indicate abuse or neglect, such as:

• Bruises, cuts, or welts in various stages of healing
• Burns
• Broken bones
• Sprains or dislocations
• Bedsores
• Malnutrition or dehydration
• Sudden weight loss
• Dirty clothing or bedding
• Unsanitary living conditions
• Anxiety, depression, or withdrawal from social activities
• Unexplained changes in behavior

Severe or long-term abuse can also lead to wrongful death or debilitating injuries. If you notice any signs of abuse in your loved one, you should report it to the authorities, such as an ombudsman or the local police. If the authorities don't take any action, you can work with a nursing home abuse attorney to file a lawsuit against them.

Our nursing home abuse affiliate lawyers help you seek compensation for your damages and guide you about possible legal options.

The World Health Organization (WHO) predicts that elder abuse will increase in most countries due to the rapidly aging population. Families of nursing home residents should be familiar with different types of abuse to determine if their loved one's life, health, or finances are at risk.

Physical Abuse

Physical abuse includes any force that results in physical pain, injury, or impairment. It can range from slapping and shoving to life-threatening assaults.

Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse involves unwanted sexual contact or inappropriate non-consensual sexual activity. Unfortunately, many nursing home residents are too frail, sick, or dependent on staff to take immediate action or protect themselves.

Emotional Abuse

Emotional abuse includes any verbal or nonverbal behavior that causes psychological trauma. Examples include name-calling, emotionally distressing language, social isolation, and intimidation.

Financial Abuse

The nursing home staff or other residents may abuse a resident's finances for their gain. Financial abuse can involve stealing money or possessions to using a resident's credit card without permission.

Neglect

Nursing home neglect is the failure of the staff to provide residents with basic needs, such as food, water, clothing, and medical care. Since residents at nursing homes often need extensive and proper care, long-term neglect at the hands of the staff can lead to wrongful death or worsening health conditions.

If that happens, the family should consult nursing home abuse lawyers on their loved one's behalf to take appropriate legal action.

If your or your loved one is a victim of elder abuse at an assisted care facility, your first resort should be to report the incident to the authorities. You could contact the police if the staff or other nursing home residents committed a crime against your loved one, such as rape or unauthorized use of finances.

But if the facility does not respond appropriately, you might want to take civil action against the at-fault party. You need to contact a qualified nursing home abuse lawyer in the Hackensack area to file a claim against the facility. Although, you could still file a claim even if the facility corrects the problem.

An experienced lawyer will know how to investigate the claim, gather evidence to support your case, and get justice for your loved one. They can also help you file a lawsuit against the nursing home to get financial compensation for your damages.

Economic and Non-Economic Damages

Economic damages in these cases can cover the cost of medical bills, funeral expenses, and other financial losses. Non-economic damages are more difficult to quantify but may include pain and suffering, mental anguish, and loss of consortium.

Punitive damages might also be available when the nursing home's actions were particularly egregious. They will help stop the abusive acts from happening to other elders at the facility.

Our dedicated attorneys will do everything under the law to help you or your loved one get justice and are compensated for your loss. In addition, we don't charge any upfront fees since we offer a free case evaluation in any New Jersey nursing home abuse case.

Any nursing home resident who has been a victim of abuse has the right to take legal action against the facility:

• Even if the authorities did or did not step in to stop the abuse.
• Even if the responsible parties were or were not aware of the situation.

Physically dependent or elderly under the care of any responsible party or their families can get a free consultation from our lawyers to file a claim against nursing home facilities in the following areas:

• Bergen County
• Essex County
• Middlesex County
• Camden County
• Fort Lee County

We serve personal injury and other abuse clients living in all Hackensack nursing homes. Call us today to get justice for your loved one.

The Hackensack, New Jersey, nursing home abuse affiliate attorneys at Nursing Home Law Center, LLC fight aggressively to defend victims of mistreatment.

Our NJ nursing home abuse and neglect injury lawyers use the law to ensure that those responsible for harming your loved one are held legally and financially accountable. Besides Bergen County and Essex County, we also serve clients in the rest of Hackensack, New Jersey.

Contact our Hackensack, NJ personal injury law office today at (800) 926-7565 or through the contact form to schedule your full case evaluation. Our legal advocates accept all personal injury cases on a contingency fee arrangement, meaning you do not pay until we successfully resolve your claim through a negotiated settlement or jury award.

Talk with a nursing home neglect lawyer to discuss the merits of your case to determine all your legal options as an assisted living facility resident.

Resources:

• NCBI: Older People Abuse in Nursing Homes
• WHO-Information About Elder Abuse