When you place your loved one in a nursing home or assisted living facility, you expect they will receive the best care available. Unfortunately, instances of nursing home abuse and neglect are all too common. While the warning signs are sometimes difficult to detect and can vary depending on the situation, family and friends should look out for certain red flags. If your loved one has been mistreated at a nursing home facility and suffered injuries as a result, you may be entitled to pursue legal action on their behalf.
What Are the Warning Signs of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect?
Nursing home residents are some of the most vulnerable members of society. They can be at risk of abuse by staff members, other residents, and visitors. Significantly, there are various types of nursing home neglect — it can come in physical, psychological, emotional, or financial forms.
Some common signs of nursing home abuse or neglect include the following:
- Unsafe living conditions
- Bedsores
- Malnutrition or lack of food
- Unexplained bruises
- Signs of deteriorating personal hygiene
- Stained clothing
- Sudden behavioral changes
- Withdrawal from social activities
- Broken possessions
- Startling easily
- Unexplained weight loss
- Recurrent infection
- Decrease in mobility
In many cases, more than one type of abuse occurs. For instance, a nursing home resident can be abused both physically and emotionally by a caregiver. In other cases, they might also be exploited financially. In addition, a victim can be subjected to neglect alongside instances of nursing home neglect. While abuse is characterized as malicious intentional behavior, neglect is defined as the lack of action to fulfill caretaking obligations or provide medical treatment.
What Should You Do If You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse?
Learning that your loved one has been a victim of nursing home neglect can be devastating, and taking action immediately is important. They may require medical treatment for their physical and emotional injuries, and you may be entitled to recover financial compensation for your financial losses.
A nursing home can be held liable for failing to protect an elderly victim. However, situations involving nursing home abuse can be complex, and it’s essential to document everything that has happened. Speak with your loved one in private about the situation — if there is clear abuse or your loved one is in imminent danger, call the authorities immediately. You should also contact an attorney as soon as possible who will know the steps to take to investigate the matter, identify the potentially liable parties, and file a legal action.
Compensation in a nursing home abuse claim can include both economic and non-economic damages. A plaintiff may be able to recover the costs associated with the medical treatment for the abuse-related injuries and the expenses associated with transitioning the victim to a different nursing home or facility. An award of non-economic damages can cover the physical and emotional pain and suffering experienced by the victim due to the abuse.
Contact an Experienced New York Nursing Home Abuse Attorney
If your loved one has suffered abuse in a nursing home, having an experienced attorney by your side is critical for pursuing justice on their behalf. Providing compassionate counsel and knowledgeable representation, the nursing home abuse attorneys at The Dearie Law Firm, P.C. are dedicated to representing the families of nursing home neglect victims and work diligently to ensure the best results in their cases.
The Dearie Law Firm, P.C. has convenient office locations in Manhattan, the Bronx, and Brooklyn, as well as mobile locations serving Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, the Bronx, Staten Island, Westchester County, Rockland County, Nassau County, and Suffolk County. Contact us today for a consultation.