Nursing homes are supposed to protect and care for your elderly loved ones, but far too often it can lead to physical or emotional harm. It is often the result of nursing home staff being abusive or negligent in their care. When elderly loved ones are subjected to abuse, the consequences can be detrimental to their already frail health. David E. Gordon, a Board-certified personal injury attorney, can help you obtain compensation for the injured resident for what they have endured. A Southaven nursing home abuse lawyer can pursue financial compensation on your behalf and help you navigate this difficult situation.
Types of Abuse in Nursing Homes
A person suffers abuse in a nursing home when they are the subject of intentional harm, negligent care, or neglect by nursing home staff. They could be living in unsanitary and dangerous conditions, or they could face direct abuse from staff members. Common forms of abuse that may occur in a nursing home include, but are not limited to:
- Passive neglect
- Physical abuse
- Emotional abuse of patients
- Sexual abuse by staff or other residents
- Financial exploitation of elderly residents
- Willful deprivation of patient needs
- Isolation and unlawful confinement of patients
- Theft and fraud
- Charging for services not rendered or overcharging for services
These various forms of abuse can take a major toll on residents who might not be able to defend themselves or communicate the problem. A local nursing home abuse attorney can help gather evidence of this conduct to be used in a lawsuit.
Detecting Signs of Nursing Home Neglect or Abuse
There are certain signs that may be indicative of abuse or neglect of a resident at a nursing home facility. These may include:
- Sudden changes in finances or unexpected changes to a will
- Sexually transmitted diseases
- Staff refusing access to elderly resident
- Strange behavior, especially fear or self-isolation
- Unexplained physical harm such as broken bones, sprains, or bruises
- Resident continually losing possessions, especially valuable ones
- Dehydration or malnutrition
These and other types of harm may be signs that a resident is being take advantage of. A proper investigation is necessary to determine whether the resident is at risk and whether their harm may be compensable in a personal injury lawsuit.
Pursuing Legal Options
There are options that nursing home residents and their family members can take to address potential or known abuse. With the help of a Southaven nursing facility neglect lawyer, the family can report the abuse and neglect to the proper authorities and can refer the matter for possible criminal prosecution.
David can also determine someone’s rights to possible civil damages. These are meant to compensate the injured resident, as well as their family members in certain situations. This compensation may include:
- Past and future medical bills
- Property damage or loss
- Nursing home fee reimbursement
- Costs of rehabilitation
- Pain and suffering
Nursing homes should be responsible for the harm they cause due to their negligence, abuse, or neglect. A civil lawsuit is the best way to accomplish this.
Seek Relief with a Southaven Nursing Home Abuse Attorney
Nursing home abuse and neglect should not be left unchecked. The parties responsible for the abuse should be held accountable for their actions. Your elderly loved one deserves justice for what happened to them in their time of need. A Southaven nursing home abuse lawyer from the Law Office of David E. Gordon is ready to assist you in pursuing financial compensation. Contact us today.
