Leaving a loved one in the care of a nursing home can be a difficult decision for everyone involved, but there should be no reason not to trust the team taking care of your elder family member. Unfortunately, nursing homes are not always the safe and supportive facilities that they claim to be, and elders in these care homes may be subject to neglect, abuse, and theft. Trying to decide how best to move forward with a situation like this can be difficult and fraught with complicated legal decisions, but working with a nursing home abuse attorney can be the best way for you to move forward with your legal options and seek justice for your loved one.
If you suspect that your loved one is suffering from neglect or abuse in a nursing home environment, it is important to take the correct steps from the start. Partnering with an attorney who can help you develop a strategy and move towards a fair outcome to this unfortunate and upsetting situation is one of the best ways to ensure that you have a good chance of a favorable resolution through a civil lawsuit. There may be criminal violations in addition to the civil matters, and although your personal injury attorney may not be able to help you with the criminal aspects of the nursing home abuse, they may be able to direct you to the appropriate authorities to ensure that your elderly loved one gets the care they deserve.
Contact 1-800-Injured To Connect With a Nursing Home Abuse Attorney Today
1-800-Injured is an attorney and medical referral service. When you discover that your loved one is being abused or neglected in their nursing home, it can be difficult to determine where to turn next as you consider your best options to get your loved on the support they need. In these early days, the thought of reaching out to numerous law firms in the hopes that an attorney will be willing to take your case can seem like too much to take on, even if this legal representation is one of the best ways forward. This is where 1-800-Injured can help.
Reach out to us as soon as possible, and we will connect you with an attorney who is ready to take your case. During your free initial consultation with the nursing home abuse lawyer, you will be able to discuss a number of topics, such as the type of abuse you believe that your loved one is suffering, the steps you have already taken, and other relevant information. This initial conversation can give you a better sense of your legal outlook and give you the confidence you need to start fighting for the justice your elderly loved one deserves.
Read more about nursing home abuse in Florida below, and contact us as soon as possible to connect with an attorney today.
What Is Nursing Home Abuse?
The term nursing home abuse covers a wide range of behaviors, a number of which we have listed below and given better explanations of. Whether or not you see the specific situation below that you believe your loved one is experiencing, contact us as soon as possible. Speaking with a personal injury lawyer will give you insight into laws surrounding nursing homes and elder care and can give you a better sense of what you can do to protect your loved one moving forward.
Physical Abuse
Physical abuse may be the most obvious type of nursing home abuse to identify because it may leave marks such as bruising, welts, or lacerations. This can include things like kicking, punching, strangling, shoving, slapping, and other violent physical acts that are done with the intention of hurting the victim.
Sexual Assault
Sexual assault includes things like rape, unwanted touching, threatening sexual acts, and many other acts that are considered to be sexual assault and battery.
Excessive Physical Restraint
In certain instances, it is both warranted and justified to physically restrain a nursing home resident in order to protect themselves and others from harm, such as cognitive disturbances, functional disabilities, behavioral problems, a history of falls, or valid threats of self-harm. However, the decision to use physical restraints should not be made lightly and should only be used when absolutely necessary to avoid physical and emotional harm done to the individual.
Unauthorized Use of Chemical Restraints and Medications
In addition to physical restraints, certain medications may sometimes be used as “chemical restraints” in order to subdue an individual. Administering medication of any type to someone without authorization is a dangerous behavior, and using medications or chemicals as a form of restraint without proper authorization and clear guidelines is both unethical and possibly illegal — and constitutes abuse.
Deprivation from Water and/or Food
When a nursing home resident is deprived of food and water in ways that go beyond dietary requirements or restrictions — and possibly used as a form of punishment — this constitutes abuse and should be handled aggressively. Lack of proper nutrition and hydration is extremely dangerous and can lead to organ damage, malnutrition, and even death. You should have a clear understanding of the nutritional schedule your loved one is on, and should know if and why there may be divergences to this schedule for medical reasons — never as punishment.
Contact 1-800-Injured Today
We understand that it can be emotional and overwhelming to discover that a loved one is being mistreated by either nursing home staff or other residents, and we are here to help you connect with an attorney who will seek justice on your loved one’s behalf. The sooner you contact us, the sooner you will be able to take aggressive action with legal representation in order to protect your loved one and seek a resolution to this inexcusable and cruel behavior. Nobody deserves to be abused or subject to neglect, and we leave our loved ones in these facilities with the expectation that they will be able to get the attention and care they need.