Lakewood, NJ Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

Nursing home abuse and neglect are serious issues affecting thousands of victims yearly. Abuse can take many forms, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and financial abuse. Also, caregivers can neglect residents by failing to provide necessary medical care, adequate food or water, or leaving residents in hazardous conditions.

Victims of nursing home abuse and neglect often suffer severe injuries, illnesses, and even death. The effects of nursing home abuse and neglect can devastate families, who often trust nursing care facilities to care for their loved ones.

Are you or a loved one victims of nursing home abuse or neglect? You could be entitled to financial compensation. The affiliate New Jersey personal injury attorneys at Nursing Home Law Center, LLC, can help you recover the money you need to pay for medical bills, funeral expenses, and other costs associated with the abuse or neglect.

All sensitive or confidential information you share with your personal injury attorney concerning a nursing home abuse case remains private through an attorney-client relationship. Contact our Lakewood, NJ, nursing home abuse lawyers today at (800) 926-7565 (toll-free phone number) for a free consultation.

What Is Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse?

According to the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA), nursing home abuse and neglect affect millions of victims annually. Victims often cannot speak out about the abuse they suffer due to their age or cognitive impairment.

The following are some of the most common types of abuse and neglect suffered by victims in nursing care facilities:

  • Physical abuse includes any physical contact that results in pain, injury, or unreasonable restraint. This nursing home abuse could involve caregivers, family members, visitors, outside contractors, doctors, and other patients who can harm the resident.
  • Sexual abuse includes any unwanted sexual contact or advances. Nursing home residents can be sexually assaulted by caregivers, staff, other patients, and visitors.
  • Emotional abuse includes any words or actions that cause emotional pain or distress. This type of abuse can be verbal or nonverbal. Verbal abuse includes yelling, name-calling, and threats. Nonverbal emotional abuse includes facial expressions that depict disgust or ignoring the resident altogether.
  • Financial exploitation includes stealing money or possessions from a nursing home resident or using their money or assets without permission. This exploitation can be carried out by caregivers, staff, family members, or strangers.
  • Neglect occurs when a caregiver fails to provide the appropriate care for a nursing home resident. Nursing home negligence could include failing to provide food, water, medical attention, or hygiene assistance. Neglect can also occur when a nursing home fails to maintain a safe and clean environment or fails to provide proper care to prevent bed sores.

Do you suspect a loved one is harmed by nursing home abuse or neglect? Speak out! You can contact Adult Protective Services, the police, or a lawyer to get help.

You should also document any injuries or changes in behavior that you see. Taking action can help protect your loved one and others from future abuse.

Bed Sores: A Sign of Nursing Home Neglect

Unrelieved pressure on the skin creates bed sores (pressure ulcers, pressure sores, pressure wounds, decubitus ulcers) are wounds caused by unrelieved pressure on the skin. They usually develop over bony prominences, such as the elbow, heel, hip, shoulder, back, and head.

Pressure ulcers can be excruciating and lead to infection, sepsis, gangrene, and death. State surveyors often investigate them as part of their assessment of nursing homes for compliance with federal quality standards in preventing and treating bed sores.

Nursing homes that do not take appropriate steps to prevent or treat bedsores can face sanctions such as monetary fines or termination from the Medicare program.

Those who cannot reposition themselves, have fecal incontinence, or are unable to feed themselves are at higher risk of pressure sores. Some medical conditions can cause early-stage bed sores, leading to more severe stages if left untreated.

Bed sores are a significant healthcare issue. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has identified pressure ulcer prevalence rates as 7-23%.

Nursing homes are not safe havens for seniors. Residents with higher risk factors of developing bed sores include those who:

  • Have limited ability to move around
  • Cannot sense when they need repositioning
  • Have incontinence
  • Have skin inclined to develop bed sores
  • Are prone to bacterial infection

Sometimes, a pressure ulcer may progress into total thickness damage leading to tissue loss and permanent scarring. Many bed sores can lead to the resident’s death when the pressure ulcers are allowed to degrade.

How Wrongful Death in Nursing Homes Affects Families

When a loved one dies due to negligence in a nursing facility, it can devastate the entire family. There is the emotional pain of losing a disabled, cognitively impaired, or elderly loved one and the stress of dealing with the legal process.

Investigating wrongful death in nursing homes can be challenging, as it could be difficult to determine who is responsible. Several people could be held liable, including the nursing staff, the doctor who prescribed the medication that caused the death, or the company that manufactured the drug.

Filing a Wrongful Death Lawsuit

Civil tort law provides legal opportunities to seek and obtain financial compensation through a nursing home abuse lawsuit based on wrongful death. The law defines wrongful death as a fatality caused by another person or entity's negligence or intentional action.

A nursing home may be negligent if its staff fails to provide quality care, leading to a resident's death.

To file a wrongful death lawsuit against a nursing home, you must prove that the facility's negligence led to your loved one's demise. You will also need to show that you have suffered damages due to the death, such as funeral expenses, medical bills, or lost income.

Are you considering filing a wrongful death lawsuit against a nursing home? Speak with an experienced nursing home abuse attorney who can help you navigate the legal process.

Hire a Lakewood Nursing Home Neglect Lawyer to Resolve a Nursing Home Negligence Case

Do you suspect the nursing facility harmed your disabled or elderly loved one? Do you believe that a lack of quality care led to your damages?

The Lakewood nursing home abuse attorneys at Injury Lawyer Team, sponsored by Rosenfeld Law Offices, represent victims of nursing home abuse and neglect. Contact a nursing home abuse attorney

today at (800) 926-7565 (toll-free phone number) or use the contact form to schedule a free consultation.

Every personal injury attorney at our law offices accepts cases on a contingency fee basis. This arrangement ensures you pay nothing until your Lakewood nursing home abuse lawyer resolves your case through a negotiated settlement or jury award.

We represent clients throughout New Jersey, including Bergen County, Mercer County, Camden County, Passaic County, Middlesex County, and Essex County. All confidential or sensitive information you share with our legal team remains private through an attorney-client relationship.

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Client Reviews

★★★★★
Jonathan did a great job helping my family navigate through a lengthy lawsuit involving my grandmother's death in a nursing home. Through every step of the case, Jonathan kept my family informed of the progression of the case. Although our case eventually settled at a mediation, I really was impressed at how well prepared Jonathan was to take the case to trial. Lisa
★★★★★
After I read Jonathan’s Nursing Home Blog, I decided to hire him to look into my wife’s treatment at a local nursing home. Jonathan did a great job explaining the process and the laws that apply to nursing homes. I immediately felt at ease and was glad to have him on my side. Though the lawsuit process was at times frustrating, Jonathan reassured me, particularly at my deposition. I really felt like Jonathan cared about my wife’s best interests, and I think that came across to the lawyers for the nursing home. Eric
★★★★★
I strongly recommend Deborah, and her team, for anyone who is looking for caring and tough attorneys to represent them. My mom was horribly neglected in a nursing home and Deborah uncovered the truth and fought hard for justice. She was always there to answer our questions and guide us along the way. Rebecca M.
★★★★★
Deborah helped our family get justice for the neglect of our mother who was in a nursing home. She was very dedicated to our case and fought hard to expose the nursing home for the poor care she received. We highly recommend Deborah and her team. Renee H.
★★★★★
Deborah and her firm handled a case for my family. During that time, our mother passed away at a nursing home from bedsores. Everyone at the firm was so caring and involved. We are so thankful to Deborah for fighting so hard for us to obtain justice. Delores L.