Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers

Your family member has rights, and if they are not being upheld or you think he or she is being abused, it’s time to act. You may have the right to file a lawsuit against the nursing home on behalf of your loved one.

In most cases of nursing home abuse or neglect, there are signs. Some long-term care facility residents are reluctant to tell family members that they feel afraid or are being treated poorly. But there are things you can look for to determine whether your family member is being abused.

Ask Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer: What Constitutes Nursing Home Abuse?

• Nursing Home Abuse: Any intentional harm that comes to a resident in a long-term care facility is considered nursing home abuse. If your loved one is being intimidated, confined unreasonably, physically injured, or subjected to any mental anguish, then abuse is taking place.
• Nursing Home Neglect: This occurs when a staff member doesn’t provide adequate care for a resident. Nursing home neglect may come in the form of lack of cleanliness, isolation, not giving medication on time, or failure to react to potential danger.

If this behavior is detected, contact a trusted nursing home abuse lawyer as soon as possible to prevent further injury to your elderly loved one. Call 844-GET-MIKE for justice immediately.

Types of Nursing Home Abuse

SEXUAL ABUSE
Many long-term care residents are frail and unable to fight back, which makes them an easy target for sexual abuse. Some conditions make residents more prone to this type of abuse. Residents with dementia and Alzheimer’s diseases are less likely to tell family members about sexual abuse partly because they don’t recall the incident. The perpetrator can be an aid, nurse, staff member, and even a visitor to another resident.

FINANCIAL ABUSE
Skilled nursing home abuse lawyers know that residents who are known to have a substantial amount of money are more likely to be targets of financial abuse.

Signs of this type of abuse are recent revisions to wills and other legal documents, withdrawals from bank accounts, stealing of belongings or cash, delaying bill payments, and cashing checks without consent. If you suspect these actions, contact a nursing home abuse lawyer with evidence as soon as possible.

PHYSICAL ABUSE

• Hitting
• Kicking
• Pushing
• Excessive restraining
• Force-feeding
• Overmedicating
• Improperly restraining

EMOTIONAL ABUSE

• Yelling
• Abusive language
• Intimidation
• Manipulation
• Isolation
• Bullying
• Harassment

COMMON SIGNS OF NURSING HOME ABUSE

• Bruises
• Cuts
• Bedsores
• Broken bones
• Dehydration
• Moodiness
• Social withdrawal
• Weight Loss
• Poor hygiene

EXAMPLES OF NURSING HOME NEGLIGENCE

• NEGLIGENT HIRING
  Long-term care facilities are required to hire staff members who are educated in this field, meet the state and federal requirements, and pass a background check. If a resident is injured by a staff member who wasn’t adequately educated or has a criminal record and wasn’t given a background check, the facility can be held liable. An experienced nursing home negligence lawyer can help hold them accountable.

• UNDERSTAFFING
  It isn’t uncommon to find an understaffed nursing home. Nursing homes are required to have a certain staff-to-patient ratio and if this ratio is not met, the care of patients can decline. Any trusted nursing home negligence lawyer understands that this can lead to medication errors, as well as other forms of neglect.

• LACK OF TRAINING
  Knowledgeable nursing home negligence lawyers know nursing home facilities are required by law to properly train their staff. If a patient is injured due to inadequate training, the nursing home can be held liable. It’s the nursing home’s responsibility to train staff members on how to administer medication properly and how to handle unruly patients.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Near Me

Call Now

Causes of Nursing Home Abuse

• BURNOUT
  Our nursing home lawyers handle plenty of cases where burnout is the cause of abuse. Unfortunately, overworked staff can lead to burnout, which then results in neglect and, in some cases, abuse.
• FOR PROFIT BUSINESS STRUCTURE
  About 70% of nursing homes are for-profit, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Skilled nursing home lawyers understand the complexity this can bring. When a nursing home is for-profit, it affects financial decisions, such as hiring staff and maintaining the facility. Some of the for-profit facilities are focused on making money and less on the care of the residents. In a report by the journal Gerontology, it was found that nearly twice as many residents in for-profit nursing facilities suffered health issues. These health issues are mainly due to poor care.
• LACK OF SUPERVISION
  If the nursing home management team doesn’t have high standards in place – as well as accountability measures – problems can easily arise. Irresponsible staff members assume they can get away with mistreating or neglecting residents. This type of environment can lead to continued abuse and neglect because there aren’t any consequences in place.

Nursing Home Reform Act (NHRA)

The Nursing Home Reform Act was passed in 1987. Under this act, nursing homes that participate in Medicare and Medicaid are required to meet specific rights outlined in (42 CFR Part 483, Subpart B). Below are the Nursing Home Residents’ Bill of Rights under the (NHRA).

Ask A Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer: Nursing Home Residents’ Bill of Rights

• The right to live in a caring environment free from abuse, mistreatment, and neglect
• The right to live without the fear of enduring physical restraint
• The right to privacy
• The right to receive personal care that accommodates physical, medical, emotional and social needs
• The right to social contact and interaction with fellow residents and family members
• The right to be treated with dignity
• The right to exercise self-determination
• The right to use freedom of speech and communicate freely
• The right to participate in the creation and review of one’s individualized care plan
• The right to be fully informed in advance of any changes to care plan or status of the nursing home
• The right to voice grievances without discrimination or reprisal

If you believe your loved one’s rights are being violated, you may have the right to legal action. With a nursing home lawyer on your side, you could hold the nursing home accountable. The Mike Hostilo Law Firm will advocate on your loved one’s behalf, so contact an experienced nursing home lawyer today!

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Near Me | Personal Injury Law Firm Near Me

Reach Us By Phone Or Online | Call 24/7 At 844-GET-MIKE | Take Our Free Case Evaluation Online

YOU DON’T PAY US UNLESS WE WIN

The Mike Hostilo Law Firm can manage your nursing home abuse claim, as well as a wide variety of other cases – including car crashes (internal link), trucking accidents (internal link), motorcycle accidents (internal link), worker’s comp (internal link) and other accident lawsuits (practice areas page internal link). We are here to help!

Our personal injury law firm proudly serves accident injury victims throughout Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina. We offer trusted legal advice and legal representation for your accident lawsuit.

So, if you’re searching for a trusted personal injury law firm near me to fight for your legal claim, contact The Mike Hostilo Law Firm today!

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Near Me

Call Now FREE CASE Evaluation