Warren MI Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

Warren, MI Nursing Home Ratings GraphNursing home abuse is a serious problem in the United States, with more than 500 cases of abuse reported every day.

The lack of awareness, plus the fact that many nursing homes do not have adequate staff to care for their residents, make this an epidemic that needs to be stopped.

Our Warren MI nursing home abuse attorneys at Nursing Home Law Center can take on your case and fight for justice on behalf of your family.

We will ensure that you receive compensation for the damages caused by negligent caretakers at this facility. We are here 24/7, so call our MI nursing home abuse lawyers at (800) 926-7565 today!

Health Care in Michigan Nursing Homes

Health care in Michigan nursing homes is vital to the physical, mental, and social well-being of older adults. Yet, today's nursing homes are under increased scrutiny for not fulfilling their role in caring for the elderly.

Nursing homes serve as a place of care, support, and maintenance for people who can no longer live independently but don't need the level of health care provided in a hospital. Nursing homes should provide residents with a safe, comfortable, and supportive environment to receive the necessary care.

The Benefits of a Nursing Home

Nursing home residents are some of the most vulnerable people in our society, and often unable to take care of themselves and need assistance with activities of daily living. Therefore, nursing homes must provide a safe and comfortable environment for their residents.

Unfortunately, not all nursing homes are created equal. Some are much better than others. If you are looking for a nursing home for a loved one, it is essential to research and find the best one in your area.

When evaluating different nursing homes in your area, you should first look at the number of recent inspections. Next, you should visit the website of your state's nursing home oversight office and see how many reviews have been performed on a nursing home within the last year.

  • Check to see if the nursing home has a lot of serious violations: Lots of violations likely means it is not the best place for your loved one.
  • Check staffing levels: You want to ensure that enough nurses and aides offer proper care to the residents.
  • Evaluate staff qualifications: For example, the nursing home should have a licensed nurse on-site at all times.

All nurses should have a nursing degree and the appropriate certification. In addition, aides should have some training or experience working in a nursing home.

Nutritious Meals?

When assessing a nursing home's menu, you should look for a wide variety of nutritious meals. However, you should also make sure there is enough to meet the dietary needs of all residents, including those with special requests made by their doctors.

Food sitting out for long periods might indicate the nursing home may not be taking food safety seriously.

Finally, you should visit the nursing home and talk to the staff and residents. It would be best to ask the staff about their training and experience.

You should also ask the residents if they feel safe and comfortable at the nursing home. If you don't like what you hear or see, that is a sign that this may not be the place for your loved one.

Why Some Families Choose an Assisted Living Facility

Assisted living facilities in all Michigan areas, including Detroit, provide proper care for older adults who need assistance with activities of daily living but do not require round-the-clock medical supervision. In addition, many facilities offer various services, including meals, social activities, and transportation.

When assessing a Michigan assisted living facility, you should first look at the staff-to-resident ratio. You want to make sure that there are enough employees on hand to meet the needs of all residents.

The facility should also have a registered nurse on-site at all times. Check the menu to ensure a variety of healthy meals available. The facility should also be able to accommodate special dietary needs.

Finally, you should visit the facility and talk to the staff and residents. The staff should be friendly and professional. If the team does not seem friendly or helpful, that is a sign that this may not be a good place for your loved one.

Prioritizing the Nursing Home Residents’ Needs

Many nursing homes are understaffed, allowing one nurse to care for forty residents. Consequently, this may be particularly difficult because nursing home patients are often very sick and require special attention and care.

Nurses must often prioritize the needs of the patients, which can lead to neglect of some nursing home patients. In addition, nursing home residents are often very frail, making them susceptible to skin infections.

Pressure Wounds

Pressure ulcers (bed sores) are common skin infections among nursing home residents. Typically, bedsores form when skin constantly contacts surfaces, such as a bed or a wheelchair.

This pressure can cause the skin and muscles to break down and die, creating an ulcerated hole in the skin.

Pressure ulcers are preventable and are often a sign of nursing home neglect on the nursing home staff. Nursing staff must turn and reposition mobility-challenged nursing home residents every two hours to prevent the development of pressure sores.

 In addition, nursing homes should provide adequate padding and support to avoid skin breakdown.

Malnutrition

Nursing home residents also experience high rates of malnutrition. Many nursing home patients cannot feed themselves, so it is up to the nursing staff to provide three well-balanced meals per day.

The nursing home staff might violate the resident's dietary restrictions of bland foods to keep them happy by enjoying a delicious meal.

For example, a patient may be lactose intolerant and cannot eat dairy products. Still, the nursing home staff may give that patient cow's milk to make them happy, to the detriment, and compromise their health and well-being.

A Lack of Support

Some nursing homes do not provide adequate emotional support to residents, particularly those dealing with dementia. Dementia patients may become agitated and aggressive, requiring special care and attention from the nursing staff.

Nursing homes that do not have the resources to support dementia patients adequately may neglect their needs and allow the resident to develop behavioral problems such as wandering, pacing, and aggression.

Nursing home residents often feel isolated and alone. They may not have any family members living close by, so they rely on the nursing home staff for emotional support.

Nurses should provide residents with daily mental stimulation to help them stay engaged with the outside world. Activities such as watching television, reading the newspaper, socializing with other residents, and going for walks can help nursing home residents feel connected to the world.

What is Nursing Home Abuse?

Nursing home abuse can take many different forms, from physical abuse and neglect to financial exploitation:

  • Physical Abuse: This form of abuse is non-accidental physical injury (causing bruises, broken bones, or welts).
  • Physical neglect: This type of abuse occurs when a caregiver fails to provide an older person with primary care. Nursing home neglect can lead to serious injury, other health problems, or death.
  • Psychological abuse: Inflicts anguish, distress, or depression on a senior through verbal or nonverbal acts.
  • Emotional abuse: This type is any pattern of behavior directed at a senior citizen that results in emotional distress, psychological trauma, or mental anguish.
  • Financial exploitation is when a caregiver illegally uses, takes, or withholds money or property to exploit a nursing home resident financially.
  • Sexual abuse: This type of abuse is non-consensual sexual contact with a nursing home resident.
Nursing Home Abuse Stats

It is estimated that anywhere from 10% to 25% of residents experience some form of nursing home abuse. While anyone can be a victim of nursing home abuse, the elderly and those dependent on others for basic needs are particularly at risk.

If a nursing home resident dies due to the abuse, the facility and the staff may be held liable for a wrongful death claim under state law.

Do you believe that your loved one has been a victim of nursing home abuse and suffered injuries such as broken bones, pressure sores or psychological harm, or even death? If so, contact a nursing home abuse lawyer.

Our high-caliber attorneys serve clients in the following Michigan areas: Sterling Heights, Ann Arbor, Royal Oak, Grand Rapids, Clinton township, Port Huron, and Detroit, MI.

There are several ways to help prevent nursing home abuse from occurring should you suspect an elderly loved one is being mistreated.

How to Prevent Nursing Home Abuse

Numerous steps can help prevent nursing home abuse from happening:

  • First, do your research before selecting a nursing home for a loved one.
  • Second, ensure you visit the assisted living facility and speak to management about their quality measures, study policies, and procedures. Doing this before you have a crisis can help prevent a problem from occurring in the first place.
  • Third, be alert to the signs of nursing home abuse. For example, if you notice any sudden changes in your loved one's behavior, such as acting withdrawn or distant, refusing to eat or talking about being scared of a particular person, or bed sores. In that case, you should take note and investigate.

If you have any reason to believe that your loved one is being abused, contact a lawyer immediately for legal advice. A Michigan nursing home abuse attorney can help you investigate the situation and work to get your family member the help they need.

What to Do if you Suspect Nursing Home Abuse?

If you have any suspicion that your elderly family member is being abused in a nursing home, it is vital to take action:

  • First, talk to your loved one about what is going on. Then, contact the nursing home administrator or other staff members to express your concerns. Many abuse victims are afraid to speak up, so they may be relieved to have someone they trust confront them about their concerns.
  • However, it may be challenging to get a response from the nursing home, as some facilities have been accused of covering abuse under their watch.

In any case, you should make sure to document this exchange and begin keeping a log of all incidents you suspect may be nursing home abuse. If the situation worsens, contact your local law enforcement department.

Your attorney can offer legal advice on your legal options for preventing nursing home abuse from continuing. If the abuse is severe, your loved one may need to be removed from the nursing home.

A lawyer can help you file a restraining order or seek other legal remedies to ensure your loved one is safe.

Nursing Home Neglect

Affecting Dementia and Alzheimer's Patients

Nursing home neglect, a form of elder abuse in which the elderly resident experiences being neglected by caregivers, can profoundly impact people with dementia or Alzheimer's disease.

The National Institute on Aging (NIA) states that nursing home neglect is the most common abuse experienced by seniors. It frequently leads to severe physical, psychological, and social problems.

People with dementia and Alzheimer's disease experience memory loss and impaired reasoning, among other things. As a result, they may not draw attention to their need for assistance with tasks such as eating, drinking, and using the bathroom.

Even Minimal Neglect Can Significantly Harm Residents

Due to not receiving help, they can develop dehydration, malnutrition, and even fecal and urinary incontinence. In extreme cases, nursing home neglect can lead to death.

The NIA recommends that family members and friends of people with dementia or Alzheimer's be on the lookout for signs of nursing home neglect. The signs can include:

  • Changes in appearance (such as being unkempt or dirty)
  • Changes in behavior (such as appearing to be confused)
  • Depression
  • Lethargy and non-responsive behavior
  • Changes in health (such as bruising, broken bones, bedsores, pressure sores, and urinary tract infections)

A Michigan nursing home attorney can offer you legal help resolving the legal issue.

Family members and friends should be aware of the types of neglect common to nursing homes, such as:

  • Not assisting with activities of daily living (such as bathing, dressing, and grooming)
  • No assistance with taking medication
  • Not assisting in response to calls for help
  • Failing to intervene when a resident is at risk of harm (such as wandering off or becoming agitated)
  • Lacking a safe environment (such as bed rails, proper lighting, and nonslip surfaces in the bathroom)
  • Not providing food and drink that meet the resident's nutritional needs
  • Allowing the resident to become dirty and malodorous
  • Inadequate supervision
  • Not responding to residents when they call for assistance
  • Allowing disturbances in the facility (such as loud noises, fights between residents, or residents wandering into areas where there are safety hazards)
  • Failing to provide necessary medication and medical treatments

Do you suspect that a loved one is neglected in a nursing home? If so, it is crucial to take action.

You can start by talking with the nursing home administrators about your concerns. You may also wish to contact adult protective services, a local law enforcement agency, and an experienced attorney specializing in elder law for legal help.

Elderly Sexual Abuse in Michigan Nursing Homes

Deviant behavior happens everywhere, even in nursing homes working as employees or living there as neighboring residents. Sexual abuse of elderly citizens is an underreported crime, partly because of the victims' reluctance to tell others they were assaulted.

It can be difficult to prosecute these criminals because of the often-limited evidence available, and many times the victims are too scared or embarrassed to talk about what happened.

Michigan Nursing Home Problems

Unfortunately, nursing homes in Michigan are not immune to this problem. A recent study by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) found that one in four Michigan nursing home residents had been sexually abused at some point in their lives.

That's a staggering number, and it's clear that more needs to be done to protect our elderly citizens from abuse.

One common way abusers take advantage of their victims is by isolating them from friends and family. Thereby making the victim feel more dependent on their abuser, and it can decrease the likelihood that they'll report them or fight back.

Local Sexual Abuse Cases

In a case in a Detroit suburb in Michigan, a man who worked as a caregiver at a nursing home was accused of sexually abusing several women whose spouses had died. After their spouses passed away, the man would "comfort" the women by touching them inappropriately and making sexual comments.

In another case, a woman was repeatedly raped by her father-in-law while staying in a Michigan nursing home. Even after the nursing home staff found out about the incident, they did nothing to protect her and allowed her father-in-law to continue visiting her.

These are just a couple of examples of the many cases of elderly sexual abuse that occur every year, and it's clear that Michigan nursing homes need to do more to protect their residents.

Are you or a loved one the victim of abuse? If so, you should never suffer in silence. Talk to a knowledgeable Michigan sexual abuse attorney today.

What is a Personal Injury?

The average person who spends their golden years in a retirement community enjoys an active, independent lifestyle. Unfortunately for some, this often does not last very long.

Many older people in these communities sometimes require a level of medical care that may be beyond what their loved ones can provide.

Michigan nursing homes have been established as a haven for these people, but unfortunately, they too often come with risks of their own. One of the most common dangers Michigan nursing home residents face is a personal injury that can take many forms, from falls and slips to assault and abuse.

Failing to Recover from Injury

Nursing home residents are especially vulnerable to a personal injury as they often have health conditions that make them unsteady on their feet or limit their mobility. These suffered injuries can be devastating for the victim and their loved ones, who are forced to watch as they fail to recover from their injuries helplessly.

The Michigan nursing home staff may be liable for your injuries and be entitled to compensation. However, an experienced personal injury lawyer can help you navigate the complex legal process and ensure that you receive the maximum amount of compensation possible.

Please contact our attorneys today if you want more information on personal injury in Michigan nursing homes. We can answer your questions and help you get started on your compensation case.

Warren MI Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

Representing Victims With All Types of Elder Abuse Claims

As the population of residents living in nursing homes continues to grow, many families know that specific regulations, guidelines, and laws are in place to protect residents' legal rights. However, many families are surprised to learn that nursing home neglect is still a common problem in the United States.

Nursing home neglect can take many different forms but often includes:

  • Failing to provide necessary care for residents, such as pain management
  • Not providing essential medical care for residents
  • Physical abuse
  • Verbal abuse
  • Sexual abuse
  • Neglecting to provide essential food or hydration

Nursing home abuse lawyers specialized in helping nursing home patients, including long-term care facilities and assisted living communities. These attorneys know that many residents cannot speak up for themselves when neglected or abused.

You, with an attorney's help, can take legal action against the negligent party and hold them accountable for the harm they've caused, including financial losses, physical injuries, and emotional distress.

Do you believe that your loved one has been a victim of nursing home abuse or neglect? If so, contact an experienced Michigan nursing home abuse attorney who has significant experience in nursing home abuse cases.

We'll investigate the circumstances of your case, determine who is responsible, and help you seek justice. Call our attorney today for a free consultation.

Legal Expertise

Our nursing home abuse attorneys are experts in handling medical malpractice, bedsores, broken bones, and pressure sores lawsuits. A free consultation is available upon request if you have a nursing home abuse or wrongful death claim

Our Michigan nursing home abuse attorneys cover the following areas:

  • Bloomfield hills
  • Ann Arbor
  • Port Huron
  • Clinton Township
  • Royal Oak
  • Detroit MI
  • Genesee County
  • Grand Rapids
  • Macomb County

In addition to financial compensation, nursing home abuse victims and their families can receive a settlement that ensures the responsible parties are held accountable for the harm done.

If you would like more information about nursing home abuse or believe that your loved one has been a victim of nursing home neglect, contact Michigan experienced nursing home abuse lawyers at Nursing Home Law Center today for a free consultation.

What to Do Next

Nursing home abuse attorneys in our law firm have legal resources and significant experience in a wide range of related practice areas such as nursing home abuse cases, medical malpractice, personal injury, and stand shoulder-high in the legal profession.

We offer a free consultation to any potential victim, and our attorneys are available 24/7 to answer any questions you may have. So, don't wait to get the help you need – contact attorneys today!

Our Michigan nursing home abuse lawyers are passionate about helping people like yourself get justice when they have been wronged by those responsible for their care. We understand that this is not just another legal issue – it's personal because it affects someone close to you whom you love very much.

Let us take on the burden of fighting against those who hurt them while allowing them to focus on healing from their injuries instead of worrying about court dates and paperwork deadlines.

Hiring a Warren Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

Have you or a loved one been abused, neglected, or mistreated in a nursing home? If so, we can help. We have experienced Warren, MI, nursing home abuse lawyers, and we know how to fight for your rights.

You may be entitled to compensation for the harm that has been done to you and your family. Contact us today for a free legal session with an attorney who will closely listen as you explain what happened and answer any questions you have about your case.

Call our personal injury law offices at (800) 926-7565 now, or use the contact form on the website to communicate with a Warren, Michigan attorney to schedule a free consultation!

The nursing home abuse attorneys at the Nursing Home Law Center serve our clients on a contingency fee basis, and we only get paid if we win compensation for you. Therefore, we will not disclose any information that may lead to your identification due to an attorney-client relationship, and your private or sensitive data will be kept confidential.

Resources:

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