The elderly and the disabled are some of the most vulnerable members of our society, and most of us recognize that we have a responsibility to provide them with the care and attention they need. Nursing homes are meant to fill those loved ones needs by offering them the level of care they require. Unfortunately, unscrupulous nursing home operators and employees often fail to meet even minimum standards of care, exploiting their patients' vulnerability.
Nursing home abuse is an all too common problem, as patients suffer from the effects of negligence and abuse, which often goes unnoticed for far too long.
If you believe that a negligence or abuse at a skilled nursing facility is responsible, in whole or part, for the death, illness, injury, or other degeneration of your loved one's physical health, you may be able to recover damages for expenses incurred and for the pain and suffering your loved one and your family suffered as a result.
Signs of nursing home neglect and abuse
Some common forms of negligence and abuse in nursing homes include:
- Lack of basic grooming and hygiene. Many nursing home residents depend on their caretakers for basic grooming and hygiene needs, including bathing, dental care, hair-washing, and other needs. If your loved one seems to be dirty and disheveled when you visit, or if he or she has suffered from conditions such as bedbugs, lice, or similar conditions, the nursing home may be neglecting his or her basic hygiene needs.
- Bed sores. Patients who are incapacitated and confined to bed need to be turned and exercised frequently in order to prevent bedsores. Even in some of the best conditions, bedsores can form. However, when this occurs, the bedsores should be treated promptly and sufficiently to prevent them from getting worse.
- Malnutrition and dehydration. Simple lack of sufficient food and water is another common problem in nursing homes. Many patients lack the physical or mental capacity to eat and drink, and thus require assistance, either by manual feeding or by feeding tubes. If your loved one shows signs of dehydration or malnutrition-including lethargy, weight loss, sudden decrease in skin resilience, or other symptoms-he or she may be suffering from something as simple as lack of food and water.
- Overmedication. In some cases, nursing home employees will medicate patients unnecessarily in order to keep them quiet and complacent. If you notice that your loved one is showing symptoms such as an uncharacteristic lack of awareness, glassy eyes, drooling, or other symptoms, these may be signs that the nursing home is overmedicating him or her.
- Excessive restraint. Many nursing home employees use restraint to keep patients under control. While restraints may be necessary infrequently to hold patients still for brief periods, they should never be used unless absolutely necessary, and even then, for as short a time as possible.
- Insufficient supervision. Without sufficient supervision, patients in nursing homes can often wander away from the home, or find themselves in dangerous conditions. If your loved one has gone missing or suffered from injuries as a result of lack of supervision in a nursing home, you may have a claim against the provider.
Nursing home damage compensation
If someone you love has suffered from illness, injury, or other deterioration of their mental or physical condition as a result of nursing home negligence or abuse, you may be eligible to receive compensation for those damages, including:
- Medical expenses
- Ongoing physical therapy
- Psychological counseling
- Funeral expenses, in wrongful death cases
Call for your free personal consultation
If you believe that a family member has suffered from negligence or abuse at the hands of their nursing home providers, you owe it to yourself and your family to seek compensation for those damages, and help reestablish your family's emotional and financial security.
If you are in New York state, please call or email The Stanley Law Offices today to schedule a free, no-obligation personal consultation with one of our attorneys experienced in nursing home abuse cases such as yours. We'll review your case with you in detail, and advise you on how best to go forward.
