legal resources necessary to hold negligent facilities accountable.
Ohio Nursing Home Lawsuit Settlements (Case Valuations)
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that about two million nursing home residents receive care from about 16,000 facilities across the country each year. Of these facilities, about 70% operate as for-profit businesses. These for-profit facilities seem to be the source of most of the nation’s elder abuse complaints.
In a nationwide study ranking the states for protections for elder abuse cases, Ohio ranks at number 14 overall. While this is a fairly good ranking, elder abuse is still a pervasive issue.
Types of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Found in Ohio Nursing Homes
Nursing home abuse and neglect happen in many ways:
- Physical Abuse
This applies to any type of intentional physical harm inflicted on a nursing home resident. It may also apply to physical injuries caused by negligence.
- Injuries and Illness From Inadequate Care
Dirty facilities and soiled clothes and sheets can lead to infection and illness. Bedsores may develop in residents if caregivers fail to reposition them on a consistent basis. A 90-year-old Ohio man suffered bedsores and other injuries from neglectful care. The man’s granddaughter noticed the injuries and documented them, eventually leading to a police complaint.
- Sexual Abuse
Any unwelcome sexual contact, sexually suggestive harassment, sexual battery, or rape qualifies as sexual abuse.
- Medication Errors
Caregivers must follow medication directions for every patient and consult with prescribing doctors about discrepancies or potentially dangerous interactions with other medications.
- Falling Injuries
Nursing homes must assess individual patient fall risk and take precautions against falling injuries.
- Wrongful Death
The sudden death of a nursing home resident demands an immediate investigation.
Signs of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
The family of one Ohio woman started to suspect various forms of abuse and set up hidden cameras, ultimately catching abusive behaviors from nine different nursing aides they entrusted to care for their mother. If you visit a loved one who resides in a nursing home, pay close attention for any potential signs of abuse or neglect that may affect your loved one and/or other residents, such as:
- Dirty facilities and living quarters. Nursing homes have a professional duty to maintain sterile and comfortable facilities for residents.
- The appearance of bedsores. This indicates caregivers are not repositioning your loved one as needed.
- Unexplained injuries like bruises and scrapes. Ask for an incident report for any injury or illness you observe in your loved one.
- Sudden diagnosis of a sexually transmitted disease. This is the usual indication for sexual abuse.
- Changes in your loved one’s personality, such as signs of depression, anxiety, or a withdrawn or irritable disposition.
- Repeat similar injuries, indicating a failure to address the resident’s individual injury risks.
Ohio Hopes, a nonprofit organization, provides many resources for anyone who suspects their loved one may be a victim of nursing home abuse.
How Much Is My Ohio Nursing Home Negligence Case Worth?
Determining the value of economic damages in a nursing home abuse or neglect lawsuit is relatively simple; economic damages generally include the family’s lost income, if applicable, and the cost of required medical treatment resulting from the abuse or neglect.
The victim’s age may also influence the amount of recovery as the court will award more for a younger victim since he or she likely has longer to live than an older victim. Additionally, the victim’s overall medical condition prior to abuse influences recovery. A more severe decline due to abuse or neglect typically leads to more recovery.
Some examples of the recovery available for different types of nursing home abuse and neglect lawsuits include:
- Bedsore Settlements
- Fall Settlements
- Inadequate Care Settlements
- Medical Error Settlements
- Nursing Home Abuse Settlements
It is imperative to report nursing home abuse or neglect of any kind immediately and remove the victim from the dangerous situation as quickly as possible. Once you ensure your loved one’s safety, contact us to start discussing your legal options for recovery and learn more about the types of compensation available in your claim.
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