Gadsden Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

Protecting our most vulnerable Alabama citizens

When making the difficult decision to move beloved older family members into a nursing home or assisted living facility, we expect our loved ones to be treated with care and dignity. Typically and happily this is the case, but unfortunately there are always exceptions. Many nursing homes here in Gadsden and throughout the country suffer from being understaffed and overworked.

These types of situations can lead to carelessness and negligence, and when a nursing home fails to provide a safe place for their residents and patients to live, our older population can suffer harm and injury. If your loved one was injured due to nursing home negligence, the attorneys at Mezrano Law Firm in Gadsden can work with you to find out exactly what happened and who should be held accountable. Our job is helping you and your family.

Gadsden nursing home residents’ rights

Entering a nursing home or other senior living facility doesn’t mean the elderly have to give up their rights. According to the Older Americans Act of 1965, nursing facility residents have a long list of rights, including the right to a dignified existence. They also have the right to:

• Be treated with dignity, privacy, respect, and to live in a safe, clean, comfortable, and homelike environment

• Exercise their rights as citizens of the United States and of the State of Alabama
• Be informed of their health status and the right to participate in the planning of their own care and treatment
• Freedom of choice to make their own decisions
• Be free of verbal, mental, sexual, or physical abuse
• Be free from physical restraints or psychoactive drugs administered for discipline or convenience
• An accessible grievance procedure that is easy to use

If a nursing home resident’s rights are violated, they also have the right to fight back. Your attorney can provide more specific guidance, but it’s prudent to document every interaction you or your loved one have with the administration of the facility while you explore your legal options.

What is nursing home negligence?

Nursing home negligence occurs when a professional or staff member fails their duty of care to a resident by providing low quality care – or no care at all – that results in injury to the resident. Following are some typical examples of nursing home negligence:

• Medical neglect. Medical negligence occurs when staff fails to adequately address medical concerns like infections or bedsores.
• Neglect of basic needs. Basic needs include consistent access to a safe and clean environment, including food and water.
• Neglect of personal hygiene. Nursing homes must aid residents and patients in basic hygiene, like brushing their teeth, bathing and washing clothes. Failure to do this may be neglect.
• Neglecting social needs. If nursing home staff isolates, ignores or bullies a resident, they can cause great psychological trauma.

And, in an unsafe living environment where they may not receive necessities like adequate nutrition or medical care, residents are much more vulnerable to injury.

Types of Gadsden nursing home neglect and abuse

As we previously discussed, many nursing home and elder neglect cases are based on negligence. Unfortunately, other cases also involve issues of nursing home abuse. Some senior citizens suffer from both neglect and abuse, including:

• Physical abuse. This means any kind of hitting, shoving or otherwise unlawfully touching or restraining a nursing home resident. Physical abuse can cause injuries like bruises, fractured bones, head injuries and more.
• Emotional abuse. Hostile and aggressive verbal (and nonverbal) behavior can cause loved ones psychological distress. Long-term mental abuse can cause depression, withdrawal and anxiety in your loved one, which may result in health problems.
• Financial abuse. Some staff members attempt to take advantage of residents by tricking them into signing over financial accounts, personal property or real estate. This sort of undue influence is abuse.
• Abuse by neglect. Your loved one may be suffering from neglect if they’re exhibiting signs of improper hygiene, malnutrition, bedsores or appear to be missing important things like glasses and dentures.

Our legal team fights for the rights of the elderly and holds the guilty parties and entities responsible for their actions. We work to bring them to justice and compensate your loved one for their injuries.

Common types of nursing home injuries

Nursing home negligence and neglect can result in a wide range of injuries and damages to senior citizens, including:

• Amputations
• Bedsores
• Broken and fractured bones
• Bruising
• Cognitive impairment
• Dehydration
• Depression and anxiety
• Head injuries
• Infections
• Lacerations and cuts

Don’t wait for your loved one to tell you that they are being abused or neglected. Some residents are embarrassed, afraid or don’t realize what’s happening. Be an advocate for your family member and always be alert for changes in state of mind and physical appearance.

Seeking compensation for Gadsden nursing home injuries

You are likely eligible to seek compensation on your loved one’s behalf if they were harmed from neglect, abuse or even medical malpractice in a nursing home or assisted living facility. This includes financial compensation for:

• Medical expenses, current and future
• Physical pain and mental anguish
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Scarring or disfigurement

If nursing home negligence caused the death of your family member, you may be able to pursue a wrongful death claim. Our attorneys are compassionate and understanding in these tragic cases, and will work with you to ensure justice is served. These types of cases are time-sensitive, and we are here for you when the time is right for you to talk.

Contact our Gadsden nursing home injury attorneys

A nursing home or assisted living residence promises to take care of and protect your loved one. If they fail in that duty and injure or harm your family member, the nursing home negligence attorneys at Mezrano Law Firm help hold them responsible for their negligence. Our job is to protect our most vulnerable citizens. Call us today at 205-206-6300 or fill out our contact form to set up a consultation at our Gadsden office.