Know The Difference Between Elder Nursing Home Abuse and Negligence
When you place a loved one in a nursing home you are entrusting their care to people you believe are professionals, and there are certain legal procedures to ensure that your loved one always receives the highest level of care. However, sometimes corners get cut, and your loved one can get hurt. Attorneys Lee Eadon Isgett Popwell & Owens ensures that after you and your family have experienced nursing home negligence that you get what is rightfully owed to you. Our experienced Nursing Home Abuse Attorney services will connect you with someone to hear your case and provide you with personalized legal advise that is tailored to your needs and goals. To learn more information about nursing malpractice and how we can help call (803) 799-9811 today.
Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect
Elderly people who reside in a nursing home are vulnerable to abuse, injury and neglect. However, it is the responsibility of a nursing home to see to it that all residents are provided with a safe environment that is free from any type of danger or abuse. Nursing home abuse exists throughout the country and it extends to more than just physical abuse. Here is a look at some of the common types of nursing home abuse that go on every day.
- Sexual assault
- Wrongful death
- Dehydration
- Malnutrition
- Slip and falls
- Medication errors
Placing a loved one in a nursing home should not be an experience that warrants fear, apprehension and worry. But the sad reality is there are a significant amount of nursing home abuse and injuries every year that are no fault of the resident. Nursing homes need to be held accountable for the conditions that are not conducive to their residents. LEIP Law is ready to fight for your loved one and get them the compensation they deserve in the event that they have sustained any type of nursing home abuse injury.
All of these violations demand immediate and swift attention. These violations can also result in compensation for the victim and his/her families. LEIP Law understands all the specifics they come with nursing home abuse and can bring justice to families who are affected by this awful occurrence.
Warning Signs of Abuse or Neglect
LEIP Law will look for signs of abuse to validate and support each Nursing Home Abuse case. In many instances, elderly residents may not come out and reveal the fact that they are being abused. That’s why it’s important to look for signs of abuse that are caused by poor conditions or negligent employees of a nursing home. Here is a look at some of the warning signs that your loved one could be experiencing some form of abuse in a nursing home:
- Foul and unpleasant odors
- Conditions are not hygienic
- Bruises and broken bones
- Withdrawn demeanor
- Burns or cuts
- Genitalia bleeding
- Bed sores
- Physical restraints being used
- Mood changes
- Depression or anxiety
If you identify any of these signs, contact LEIP Law and we will immediately begin investigating the matter. There is little time to waste as elderly patients are nearing the end of their days. This makes it imperative to ensure that they live out the rest of their lives in a pleasant and safe manner. LEIP Law takes nursing home abuse very seriously and will fight to see that it ceases, and also to ensure that it doesn’t happen again while compensation is rightfully paid out to the deserving victims.
Another helpful tip that families can use when they identify signs of abuse is reporting the incident to the police. Sometimes, reporting the incident to a nursing home supervisor is not enough. Filing a police report makes a public record of the incident and could even lead to an arrest. Documentation is a key part of this process as any incident should be documented. Keeping a file is a good idea and will help strengthen a case. But don’t wait as there are laws to protect nursing home residents from this type of cruel treatment.
Other Resident Abuse Cases
Not all cases of nursing home abuse are the fault of the actual nursing home. There have been plenty of instances where the abuse is caused by other nursing home residents. This mainly consists of some type of assault, whether it be physical or sexual in nature. There is no excuse for this type of behavior and when it is identified, the proper legal action should be taken. It should also be noted that nursing homes can still be held accountable for resident abuse as there should be adequate monitoring of residents on a daily basis. Identifying the signs is the first step to stopping nursing home abuse. The next step is contacting a personal injury lawyer at LEIP Law.
