If you or a loved one is experiencing nursing home abuse, holding those responsible accountable is essential. Contact our nursing home abuse lawyer today.
When you entrust your loved ones to the care of a nursing home because they need more care than you can provide, you expect they will be kept safe and cared for properly. At Accident Aide, we are committed to bringing to justice those who abuse and neglect our elders. You can trust our compassionate nursing home abuse lawyers to fight for the rights of your loved ones.
While every case is different, most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. That means they don't charge you anything unless you win a settlement in or outside court. And only when you win will the law firm charge fees. This insures that the lawyers work hard for your case and that you never pay out of pocket. Contact our team for a free consultation to learn more about fees and the lawsuit process. Accident Aide also has contingency fees for a:
Law firms specializing in nursing home abuse and neglect claims have the experience you need to get the most compensation. They know what steps to take, how to gather evidence, where you can get support and resources, and how to claim compensation for the damages. While it is always distressing to see a loved one injured due to the negligence of a nursing home, help is available.
The U.S. Department of Justice reports that at least 10% of adults over age 65 will experience some form of elder abuse in a given year. It's essential to know the warning signs of elder abuse so you can stop or prevent it. The DOJ has identified five general categories of elder abuse:
The trauma of elder abuse can cause:
Caregiver neglect can include medication errors, not changing bedding which can cause bed sores in nursing homes, not bathing the elder often, and not providing social interaction in the nursing home.
Physical abuse includes the intentional infliction of harm to an elder. Physical abuse can be slapping, hitting, punching, or using objects to inflict harm. Other ways elders can be physically abused are when the caregiver shoves them down to sit, uses too much force when trying to move them, and many other subtle things that might not be too obvious.
Sexual abuse includes unwanted sexual contact with an elder or vulnerable adult who is unable or unwilling to be content, threatened, or physically forced to participate.
Emotional abuse includes verbal threats, assaults, threats of abuse, harassment, or intimidation.
Financial exploitation is the misuse or withholding of an elder's resources by someone else.
Abuse is an overt act inflicted on another person who may or may not be able to defend themselves. Elder abuse can include physical, emotional, sexual, or financial exploitation. Nursing home neglect can be equally harmful but tends to be more passive. For example, an overworked caregiver neglects to address the physical hygiene needs of a resident, a resident is not receiving the care they need, and it precipitates a downward cycle of neglect.
Whether overt abuse or passive neglect, both inflict physical and emotional harm on nursing home residents with the right to live in a safe, nurturing environment and have their needs addressed.
If you have a loved one who lives in a nursing home and you are concerned that they are not receiving proper care, here are some of the warning signs of nursing home neglect you can keep watch for:
When nursing home abuse or neglect occurs, some older adults are unable or unwilling to communicate the details of what happened. As a result, some may feel helpless and ashamed about the abuse, while others cannot fully understand the situation. This is why it's vital to look for signs that your family member could be the victim of abuse or neglect.
Nursing homes are required by law to provide a certain standard of care. Remember, nursing home residents have rights, including:
If you notice warning signs that your family member is experiencing abuse or neglect while living in a nursing home, it's time to take action. You should:
While nothing can erase the trauma of abuse or neglect, obtaining a monetary settlement can provide the financial resources to help your loved one move forward in life with a new, safer long-term care facility. Bringing a claim will also deter these nursing homes and nurses from injuring others.
If you have become aware that a loved one who is a nursing home resident has been neglected or abused and has sustained injuries, you may have grounds to file a claim for nursing home neglect. Depending on the nature of the injury, you might also file a criminal complaint. Contact our experienced team of nursing home abuse lawyers today to start your claim.
Victims of nursing home abuse or neglect suffer in so many ways. Besides the physical damages, many deals with pain, suffering, and emotional anguish resulting from the abuse and are at a higher risk for suicide. These victims deserve compensation for all the ways they suffer.
When bringing a personal injury claim for compensation, victims can recover for both economic and non-economic damages, including:
You are not alone. Let our nursing home neglect lawyers help you get justice through the legal system. Contact us now to schedule your free case review.
A nursing home is always liable for the care and well-being of its residents. There are many reasons, however, that the care in the nursing home can deteriorate. Let's review some of those.
Training staff to do their jobs using a reasonable standard of care for their position should be a proper process. All nurses and employees should be trained to do their job well.
All staff members should be qualified for their position. Facilities should conduct a thorough background check, consult references, or have another process to ensure that new hires are qualified.
A nursing home should employ reasonable staff members to care for residents and meet their needs.
The results can be devastating when staff members do not give the proper dosage at the right time or fail to provide the medication.
Nursing home employees must give residents the dignity, privacy, and respect they are legally entitled to.
Nursing homes must provide a safe environment for those in the facility. When a visitor or third party harms a resident due to a lack of security, the nursing home can be liable for damages.
If one or more of these situations led to your family member's abuse or neglect while living in the nursing home, you might have grounds for compensation. The experienced nursing home abuse lawyers at Accident Aide are here to help you learn and understand your loved one's rights. In addition, we can assist you in filing a complaint against the facility. Contact us today.
