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Nursing Home Lawyer
When elderly people have chronic health conditions and take care of themselves anymore, their family members may choose to place them in nursing homes. They trust that their loved ones will be in good hands. Unfortunately, it does not always work out that way. Sometimes nursing home residents even suffer abuse. If you are considering filing a claim for nursing home abuse, it is important to know all the facts.
Here are some common misconceptions about nursing home abuse that you shouldn’t believe.
Nursing Home Residents Usually Speak Up About Abuse
If your family member has never mentioned being abused, you may assume that everything is fine. However, it is important to understand that many nursing home residents will not speak up about abuse. They may feel too embarrassed or have received threats from their abusers. Some residents may have dementia and not even remember the abuse. That is why family members should always be on the lookout for signs of abuse. Common signs of abuse may include sudden weight loss, bruises, bedsores, depression and broken bones.
Nursing Home Abuse Is Always Physical
While some nursing abuse cases may involve punching, kicking and other forms of physical abuse, nursing home abuse is not always physical in nature. Nursing home residents can also suffer neglect, emotional abuse and financial abuse. These types of abuse are not as obvious as physical abuse.
Nursing Home Staff Members Harm Residents Because They Are Stressed
There is no denying that working at a nursing home can be stressful at times. These facilities may get short-staffed, so staff members may have to watch over many residents at once. However, no matter how stressed nursing home staff members may be, it does not justify abuse. Using stress as an excuse shifts the blame on the resident instead of the staff member.
Abusers Always Get Caught
While it would be ideal if all abusers got cause, it is usually not the case. As mentioned above, nursing home residents often don’t report abuse for one reason or another. Therefore, many abusers never pay for their wrongful actions.
What to Do If You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse
The last thing you want is for your loved one to suffer abuse. If you have reason to believe that your family member has suffered harm in a nursing home, it’s important to take quick action. Get in touch with an experienced nursing home lawyer, like one from Brown, Kiely, LLP, as soon as possible. A lawyer can evaluate the details of your case and provide sound legal advice.
If your lawyer believes you have a strong case for nursing home abuse, he or she can help you pursue a claim against the negligent parties. He or she may help you gather evidence, identify witnesses and handle communications with the insurance company. Nursing home abuse cases are quite complex, so it pays to have someone knowledgeable and experienced on your side.
