When people place an elderly love one in a nursing home, they expect staff members to provide adequate care to help ensure their loved one’s well-being. However, many nursing home residents’ needs are not met, and some are victims of abuse or neglect. This is a devastating blow to family members who put their trust in these facilities.
If your loved one has suffered from abuse or neglect in a nursing home, you may be entitled to fair compensation. It is important to contact a qualified Albany nursing home abuse lawyer at Roden Law to review your case and discuss the legal options available to you. An attorney can help answer any questions or concerns you have about filing a claim, including the types of compensation that may be obtained.
Call our Albany personal injury attorneys for a risk free, no obligation consultation. We work on a contingency fee basis which means there are no upfront fees or costs unless we help you recover the compensation you deserve.
Contact our office today by calling 1-844-RESULTS or filling out our Free Case Review form.
Warning Signs of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
Nursing home abuse occurs when a staff member or someone else at a nursing home causes a resident to suffer some type of harm. Neglect occurs when an elderly resident receives substandard care that causes harm. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the rate of nursing home abuse is very high, with two out of every three staff members reporting they have committed abuse within the past year.
Unless a loved one or a personal caregiver can see the signs and identify that nursing home abuse is occurring, it is often left undetected or unreported.
Warning signs of nursing home abuse and neglect include:
- Unexplained bruises, cuts or marks
- Bed sores or pressure ulcers
- Poor hygiene
- Malnutrition
- Dehydration
- Soiled bedding
- Emotional withdrawal
- Unexpected behavioral changes
- Resident is overmedicated
- Infections
- Wandering off
- Stained or bloody clothing
- Rapid weight loss or weight gain
- Resident is non-communicative around staff
Other signs of verbal or physical abuse and neglect:
- Injuries requiring immediate medical attention or treatment
- Incidents involving broken bones, most commonly fractured hips
- Heavy sedation or medication causing non-responsiveness
- Injuries caused by another resident at the facility
- Frequent illness or illnesses not reported by the facility
If you believe your loved one was the victim of nursing home abuse, contact the authorities and obtain legal representation as soon as possible. Our Albany nursing home abuse lawyers are ready to assist you. We can review your claim and help determine if you have a valid case.
Complete a Free Case Review form today.
Types of Abuse in Nursing Homes
Abuse against nursing home residents can take many different forms. This is why our Albany nursing home abuse attorneys have the knowledge and skills necessary to handle cases involving various types of abuse, such as:
Physical Abuse
This type of abuse includes physical force or contact towards an elderly resident that can cause bodily harm, physical pain or ongoing impairment. This can include:
- Beating
- Shoving
- Hitting
- Kicking
- Slapping
- Shaking
- Burning
- Pushing
Other forms of physical abuse which can also result in harm include:
- Force-feeding
- Excessive use of restraints
- Denying food or beverages
- Overmedication
Emotional or Psychological Abuse
This type of abuse involves inflicting emotional or psychological pain, distress or anguish with verbal and nonverbal cues. Elderly patients are often treated by the abuser like children and become isolated from loved ones. This can include:
- Verbal assaults
- Threatening violence
- Humiliation
- Intimidation
- Harassment
- Isolation
- Bullying
- Shouting or yelling
- Manipulation
Emotional or psychological abuse can be one of the most difficult forms of nursing home abuse to detect. Victimized elderly residents often exhibit behavioral changes including mood swings, anxiety, low self-esteem or depression.
Sexual Abuse
This type of abuse involves having non-consensual sex with an elderly resident. Sexual contact with someone who is unable to provide consent and defend himself or herself is a form of sexual abuse. This can include:
- Sexual assault
- Unwanted touching
- Rape/intercourse
- Coerced nudity
- Nude photography
Due to the sexual abuse, victimized elderly patients often exhibit physical and emotional withdrawal.
Financial Abuse
This type of abuse includes illegally or improperly obtaining an elderly resident’s assets or personal property. This can include:
- Forging the resident’s signature to obtain funds or possessions
- Stealing cash or possessions from the resident
- Signing the resident’s checks to steal money
- Coercing the resident to unknowingly sign a document
- Improperly using the benefits of power of attorney
- Mismanaging the resident’s assets for personal gain
Financial exploitation can cause significant damages and loss to a resident’s bank accounts and property.
Neglect
Neglect of an elderly resident is failing or refusing to provide the type of quality care he or she needs to live comfortably. This can also involve failing or refusing to provide the elderly resident with basic necessities, including:
- Food
- Water
- Shelter
- Clothing
- Medicine
- Hygiene
- Safety
- Comfort
Regardless of the type of abuse, if you think your loved one is a victim of nursing home abuse, contact an Albany nursing home abuse lawyer today to discuss your legal options. We can help you gather the evidence necessary to pursue legal action against the at-fault party.
Call 1-844-RESULTS now for our free consultation.
How to Report Nursing Home Abuse
Elderly residents are already in a vulnerable position and often unable to protect themselves from abuse. They must rely on their loved ones to identify the signs of abuse and intervene immediately.
Federal and state nursing home laws exist to not only help ensure a safe and comfortable environment, but also help protect elderly residents from abuse, neglect, and improper care in a nursing home facility. It is crucial for residents and their loved ones to be aware of such laws and how their rights can be violated by facilities.
If you suspect nursing home abuse or neglect, report the incident to the facility by drafting a written complaint to nursing home administrators. Filing a grievance creates an official record of your complaint which can be a critical piece of evidence if you file a lawsuit.
Be sure to include the following information in a nursing home complaint, if possible:
- Any statements from the victim and any witnesses, such as staff or other residents
- Descriptions of any injuries and photographic evidence
- Information about the victim’s finances
- Any statements from the victim’s nursing home supervisors and medical providers
Obtaining any written statements from your loved one’s nursing staff or medical providers is the type of documentation you will need to file a case to help recover any damages and obtain the justice deserved.
After reporting the incident and filing a complaint, the nursing home administrator has only three days to resolve the issue. If this deadline is not met, the administrator must respond to you in writing.
If you are dissatisfied for any reason with the written statement or actions taken by the nursing home facility, you can also file a complaint with the community or state ombudsman. Georgia’s Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman (LTCO) works to investigate or resolve complaints made by or on-behalf of long-term term care residents. You can file a complaint online or contact the local office in Albany.
After filing an abuse report, be sure to contact an Albany nursing home abuse attorney for a free, no obligation consultation to discuss your loved one’s situation and the legal options available to you.
Fill out a Free Case Review form today so we can start reviewing your case.
Liability for Nursing Home Abuse
Sometimes the company that runs the nursing home may be held liable for any injuries caused by abuse or neglect in the facility. Nursing homes can be held responsible for negligence in the following ways:
- Not properly training staff on adequate care for residents
- Failing to hire qualified staff for the job
- Failing to conduct background checks and hiring an individual with a history of violence
- Not adequately monitoring the actions of nursing staff members or taking disciplinary action when necessary
- Allowing hazardous or unsafe conditions to exist without repairing or fixing them
- Not ensuring residents’ basic needs are met, including food, water, shelter and medication
- Intentional physical, mental, sexual, or financial abuse to residents by nursing staff members
Our attorneys are prepared to help you. Call 1-844-RESULTS now.
Contact an Albany Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Now
If you believe a loved one has been abused or neglected in a nursing home, contact Roden Law to discuss your legal options for pursuing compensation.
Our Albany nursing home abuse lawyers are dedicated to protecting the rights of the elderly and will work hard to recover any damages caused by your loved one’s injuries. This includes pursuing compensation for medical expenses, disability, and mental and emotional anguish. We have helped obtain the maximum compensation deserved for many of victims of negligence.
Schedule a free, no obligation consultation today. Our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, which means we do not charge any upfront legal fees or costs for handling your claim. We only get paid if we help you obtain favorable compensation.