The decision of placing our old loved ones in a nursing home is a tough one to make. It becomes heart-crushing when we wake up one morning and discover that these lovely, fragile individuals have been maltreated, abused, and neglected in our absence. Our hopes of them getting top-notch treatment and care are dashed, as they are left to the fate of the nursing home staff.
Unfortunately, family members pay no heed to the warning signs and complaints as some of these abuses are not physical – hence, we can not see them. Nevertheless, it does not limit how detrimental and damaging these acts are.
Hiring A Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
Neglect and abuse is a serious act that requires an immediate response. Hiring a nursing home abuse lawyer can save your loved one and family from further harm. In addition, you receive compensation for the following:
- Personal and financial losses of your loved one
- Medical care for your loved one’s injury resulting from neglect or abuse
- Pain and suffering
- Cost of moving to a new nursing home
- Other related expenses
Reporting Nursing Home Abuse
Should you notice any sign of neglect or abuse on your old loved ones, take immediate action by contacting an experienced Elder abuse personal injury lawyer. The following steps will guide you towards taking the right action:
- If you notice that your loved one is in immediate danger, get the person out of the facility and contact the appropriate authorities. Also, you call 911 for emergency assistance.
- Forward your complaints to the manager or authorities of the nursing home.
- Access your loved one’s condition and document your findings, including incidents you witnessed and complaints from other individuals.
A nursing home abuse lawyer will investigate the case and ensure that due compensations are sent to the victim in no time. Many law firms provide free consultations throughout the working days of the week.
Types Of Elder Abuse And Neglect
Do not overlook your loved one’s complaint of neglect or abuse, as they are true, in most cases. It is important to keep tabs on their wellbeing at all times. The moment you notice something off, call the attention of the nursing home staff. However, if they do not attend to the situation or if it gets worse, contact a lawyer. You may be saving a resident’s life.
Before you report elder abuse and neglect, you have to understand what is happening. There are four common types of elder abuse. They include the following:
- Physical Abuse – This type of abuse involves the supposed caregiver inflicting physical pain or injury on the older adult. Physical abuse covers areas, such as slap, hit, kick, grab, pull, push, and strike.
- Emotional/Mental Abuse – In this scenario, the caregiver puts the elderly through distress, anguish, and mental pain through verbal or nonverbal actions. Such actions may include scolding, criticizing, harassing, falsely blaming, isolating, or humiliating a resident.
- Sexual Abuse – This can range from forcing a person to disrobe for the purpose of humiliation to rape.
- Financial Exploitation – In this case, the caregiver misuses, steals or conceals the resident’s funds, assets, or property.
- Neglect – If a nursing home fails to provide basic amenities (food, water, clothing, healthcare, shelter, and many more) for the residents, they can be held accountable for neglecting the wellbeing of the residents.
Throughout the year, our writers feature fresh, in-depth, and relevant information for our audience of 40,000+ healthcare leaders and professionals. As a healthcare business publication, we cover and cherish our relationship with the entire health care industry including administrators, nurses, physicians, physical therapists, pharmacists, and more. We cover a broad spectrum from hospitals to medical offices to outpatient services to eye surgery centers to university settings. We focus on rehabilitation, nursing homes, home care, hospice as well as men’s health, women’s heath, and pediatrics.
