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Is your elderly loved one the victim of nursing home neglect or abuse caused by the negligent actions of caregivers, visitors, family members, friends, or other patients?
Our personal injury lawyers at Nursing Home Law Center, LLC, work as legal advocates for senior citizens, the disabled, and those living in nursing centers, group homes, and assisted-living facilities.
Call our nursing home abuse attorneys at (800) 926-7565 (toll-free phone number) or use the contact form today to schedule a free consultation. All confidential or sensitive information you share about the nursing home abuse case remains private through an attorney-client relationship.
Many people choose to move into nursing homes as they age as they grow increasingly unable to live independently.
Sadly, it isn't uncommon for the elderly to face abuse at the hands of those paid to offer proper care for them in these facilities. Unfortunately, several thousand seniors are abused each year and find no real protection from the abuse.
Abuse often takes physical beatings, sexual assault, or verbal harassment that can include racial slurs. Victims are beaten for reasons such as being unable to sit up in bed without help, refusing to take medication, or being too loud.
Statistics show that more than 60% of nursing home residents have suffered from abuse at the hands of other residents. In addition, studies have shown that almost 15% of patients have been victims of neglect by their caregivers.
Elderly patients often face a higher risk for abuse as they're seen as defenseless and unable to speak out about what's going on around them. Unfortunately, this makes it all too easy for nursing home staff members to mistreat patients with impunity.
Nursing home abuse can take a terrible toll on those who suffer from it, identified in wrongful death lawsuit cases.
It's even known to cause wrongful death in some nursing home abuse cases. Because victims fall into depression or lose the will to live, they struggle to cope with the daily torment of negligent staff members and other nursing home residents.
The elderly population is often the victim of nursing home abuse. If an abusive caregiver has injured you or a loved one in your nursing home facility, then contact our experienced attorney at Nursing Home Law Center to discuss your legal options.
Our nursing home lawyers helped hundreds of victims who have suffered abuse to get the compensation they deserve for their injuries and will fight tirelessly on behalf of their clients to ensure that they are compensated for all damages incurred.
We are committed to holding negligent long-term care facilities, including assisted living facility, accountable for poor care that results in a resident injury or death. Our team can file a nursing home lawsuit to recover compensation for your family members' pain, physical health problems and medical expenses.
Call our law firm at (800) 926-7565 (toll-free phone call) or use the contact form today to schedule a free consultation that will commence the legal process.
Elder abuse is a crime that often goes unnoticed. It can be hard to spot the common signs of nursing home abuse cases, but it can happen in all types of relationships between older and younger people.
If you know an elderly individual who may be experiencing elder neglect and abuse in a skilled nursing facility, here are some warning signs to look for:
When you see signs of abuse in an elderly individual, it could involve hitting, kicking, biting, scratching, burning, or causing injury by using other types of objects, such as a cane or wheelchair.
Signs of mental neglect often accompany physical abuse. For example, mental abuse involves placing unrealistic expectations on an elderly individual, such as making them feel guilty about taking medications or not fulfilling daily chores around the house.
Neglect can be physical or include withholding food and water, denying medical treatment, or ignoring basic hygiene needs.
Sexually abusing an elderly individual is abusive, regardless of the relationship between the victim and their abuser. Unfortunately, older people are often at a loss to defend themselves against sexual assault.
Physical disabilities, fear, confusion, or disorientation can prevent them from fighting back or even understanding what is happening.
Sexual abuse (or sexual assault) often occurs with nursing home abuse and neglect and other types of senior abuse. Unfortunately, identifying the sexual abuser could be difficult because it often involves a nursing home employee, caregiver, or close friend.
Financial senior abuse happens when a person in a position of trust uses an elderly individual's funds for their purposes without the victim's permission. Sometimes, this can involve convincing an elderly individual to give them power of attorney over certain assets like bank accounts and property.
Other times, it might involve convincing an elderly individual or taking advantage of their memory problems to get them to "overpay" for a service. The perpetrator might be a caregiver, family member, friend, or another victim who a scam artist has targeted.
Emotional abuse happens when the abuser exerts power and control over their victim by making them feel inadequate, afraid, or dependent. There are many ways a perpetrator can be emotionally abusive to their victims, including:
For some elderly residents, being abandoned is a big concern. This form of abuse involves withholding love and attention from an older person.
It can happen to seniors who are living alone or to those who are staying in nursing homes. This type of abuse can cause serious, long-lasting psychological damage to the victim.
Some signs that elderly individuals in nursing homes are being abused include fearfulness or anxiety, poor hygiene and nutrition, withdrawal from activities they normally enjoy, and signs of depression or other mental health problems.
In addition to these warning signs, you might notice a lack of concern for the victim's well-being from those who interact with them regularly.
Sometimes it can be hard to know if an "elderly person is being abused," that's why it is important to pay attention to warning signs and seek help if you believe that an older person is in danger.
Keep in mind that it is not your responsibility to figure this out on your own, but rather a job for those with more training and expertise than you have.
An example of such professionals include:
If you suspect your loved one is being abused, it's important to remain as calm as possible and not upset the individual. However, if you feel there may be some cause for concern, contact a local law firm for legal advice.
Although many older Americans plan to move into a nursing home one day, they often don't think through the consequences of that choice. For example, they may know that they need professional medical advice and assistance with daily activities.
Still, they may not realize that going into one of these nursing homes facilities means giving up much of their freedom in exchange for medical care and hygiene assistance.
One of the biggest risks of nursing home facilities is the vulnerability to abuse. There can be many reasons for harm, including medical malpractice and exposure to other patients who can cause harm.
If you're considering a nursing home facility for an elderly friend or family member, it's important to do your part in preventing any maltreatment or neglect.
Living alone in a nursing home under an abusive environment can be a frightening and degrading experience for any elderly patient. But unfortunately, there are often very few people around to advocate to make life better.
Fortunately, if you have a friend or family member living in a nursing home facility, you can take certain steps to help protect them from abuse and neglect. Protect your loved one from abuse and neglect by following these simple steps:
If you're still concerned about your loved one's safety after speaking with an administrator, talk to local nursing home lawyers and ask about their options for filing a complaint.
You may also want to contact the police department and report any acts of abuse or neglect you've witnessed. If your loved one is physically assaulted, taken advantage of, or disrespected in any way by staff members, they're not safe where they are.
Families affected should keep detailed records of all their conversations with nursing home staff or administrators, including the date and time you spoke. This information can help bolster their nursing home abuse case if they need to pursue legal action.
A nursing home abuse attorney can take immediate legal action to protect your loved one to ensure the abuse or neglect stops.
Next, the attorney will work to ensure that your loved one receives the full financial compensation they're entitled to for their injuries.
The attorney will report any abuse or neglect-related incidents to the proper authorities. Law enforcement, state and federal regulators, and social workers will ensure the abuse doesn't continue.
But, if it does, your nursing home abuse attorney will fight to ensure that the negligent parties are removed from their positions at the nursing home facility and hold the abusers accountable.
Victims of nursing home abuse often feel like there's no safe place to turn for help. After all, many nursing homes employ underpaid nursing staff members with inadequate training to care for dozens or hundreds of patients a day.
This act can lead to a lack of care, which leads to victims being mistreated and abused by negligent nursing homes staff.
Personal injury lawyers have experience handling complex nursing home abuse lawsuits. They know the ins and outs of federal and state laws regarding abuse in nursing home facilities (and assisted living facilities) across the nation.
Many nursing home lawsuits involve acute events or long-term neglect where the nursing home fails to provide essential care. Many cases involve:
Nursing home lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, which means they only receive a payment if your loved one wins their nursing home abuse lawsuit. This rule means you don't pay anything out of pocket to hire them and can rest easy knowing that there's no risk involved for your loved one.
A reputable personal injury law firm will offer a free case review and will use this meeting as a way to get a full understanding of your loved one's case. In addition, this is a good opportunity for your family and friends to discuss their injuries, losses, and fears about returning to the nursing home facility with a qualified attorney.
Working with a personal injury lawyer means you won't have to do any leg work yourself. Instead, the nursing home abuse attorney will investigate, gather all necessary documentation, speak to witnesses, and compile this information into an easy-to-understand report that will be used to strengthen your loved one's case.
Our affiliated attorneys are well connected with medical professionals who can offer expert testimony in court regarding your loved one's injuries, which is important for winning a nursing home negligence case.
You should contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as you suspect nursing home neglect or medical malpractice at the hands of someone else. They will work closely with you and your loved one to go over each detail of their case and start building a strong foundation for their claim.
The sooner an attorney is contacted, the easier it will be to obtain critical evidence like:
Your loved one's nursing home abuse law firm will need to build this case before it can be presented in front of a judge or jury.
Our law firm understands that many families have unanswered questions about negligence and abuse involving the elderly and how to take immediate action to stop the mistreatment. Our nursing home abuse lawyers have answered some of those questions below.
Call our law office at (800) 926-7565 (toll-free phone number) or use the contact form today for additional information. Whatever you discuss with our nursing home abuse attorneys remains private through an attorney-client relationship.
Act if you have reason to believe that some elderly individuals are being abused in some nursing homes. You could:
Here are some questions that may help determine whether it is occurring to nursing home residents:
If you find that the older person is being abused, it can be complicated to ask them about it. However, if you suspect abuse, seek help from a professional elder care attorney. These professionals understand how to approach the situation with your loved ones in a way that won't upset or cause further physical harm.
If you or an older adult you know is being abused, it is important to step up and act as soon as possible. Remember, if you wait too long to report nursing home abuse, any evidence may disappear and make it harder for the authorities to hold the abuser accountable.
The consequences for not reporting elder abuse include allowing an abuser to continue their pattern of mistreatment, which could lead to worse conditions for the victim or even wrongful death.
In addition, if you do not report nursing home abuse, there's a chance that you won't be able to recover the financial losses incurred as a result of neglect and exploitation. Moreover, you are putting other residents in nursing homes at risk for similar inferior care.
Do you suspect someone is in immediate danger in a nursing facility? If so, it may be necessary to call 911 and report the abuse right away.
However, if you aren't sure if the situation warrants an emergency response, you should still seek help from a professional elder care attorney or social worker. These experts can guide you through the process of filing a report.
If you suspect that an adult is being abused, neglected, or exploited, call your local Adult Protection/Protective Services office. Many states have toll-free numbers listed in the blue pages of the telephone directory under A-W listings for "adult protective services."
It is crucial to remember that reporting elder abuse does not automatically mean that the abuser will be criminally prosecuted. You should still talk to a professional elder care attorney or social worker if you feel that reporting the abuse is necessary.
Remember, if you or someone you know is the victim of elder abuse, it is important to seek help.
Do you suspect that your loved one may be suffering from some form of mistreatments such as physical abuse, neglect, exploitation, or abandonment? If so, don't hesitate to get in touch with us right away for a free legal consultation, and our experienced team of attorneys will fight aggressively on your behalf.
According to the National Center on Elder Abuse, one in three nursing home residents is mistreated while they're under the care of others. And for every case that gets reported, experts believe many cases go unreported.
The sad truth is that anyone can become a victim of nursing home abuse. If you suspect your loved one is in danger at their nursing home facility, don't be afraid to get involved and protect them. Seek legal help on how to file nursing home abuse lawsuits
Check local listings for domestic violence shelters in your area. Depending on your loved one's situation, they may be able to stay at a shelter for battered women while you work with authorities to ensure their safety. Be sure to check with your local police department for any shelter locations you can visit.
When nursing homes fail to provide the required care to your loved one and serious injuries or medical malpractice occurs, you may have grounds to pursue a nursing home lawsuit.
Many residents in nursing homes are unable to effectively communicate so taking action soon after an incident is important in terms of preserving evidence documenting an incident.
Similarly, when nursing home residents die unexpectedly during an admission to a long-term care facility, the surviving family members may have grounds to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
Our team of affiliated nursing home abuse lawyers have experience prosecuting injury and wrongful death lawsuits involving all types of long-term care facilities. Many of our cases involve: falls with fractures, pressure sores, sepsis infections and medication errors.
Contact us today and let us begin the process of evaluating your rights related to a nursing home abuse lawsuit.
Once you contact a lawyer at the Nursing Home Law Center, they will schedule an appointment with you to discuss the medical care of your loved one. This free legal case review is used as a way to meet both you and the attorney, discuss your case in detail, and answer any questions you might have.
During the meeting, our affiliated nursing home abuse attorneys will ask about your loved one's accident, injury, or loss of a loved one at the nursing home facility.
Call our abuse lawyer at (800) 926-7565 (toll-free phone number) or use the contact form today for a free case review.
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