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MEZRANO ALABAMA INJURY LAWYERS
MEZRANO ALABAMA INJURY LAWYERS

Mobile Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

At Mezrano Law Firm, you can trust that we have your best interests at heart in everything we do. With more than 40 years of combined legal experience, our personal injury legal team has earned a reputation for the care and attention we offer to our clients while still being challenging and tenacious when required. If you have a loved one being abused, we are here to advocate for justice. We will hold those responsible for their injuries accountable. Contact a Mobile nursing home abuse lawyer today for a FREE consultation.

Call For a FREE Consultation 

Call us at (205) 654-8146 24/7 to arrange to speak with a personal injury lawyer about your case, or contact us through the website today.

What does nursing home abuse and neglect look like in Alabama?

Mobile Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

The Alabama Department of Public Health reports that the elderly population of Alabama is expected to grow by 82.4 percent between 2010 and 2040, adding 542,061 elderly people. As people age, many will suffer from Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Elderly people who are frail and suffering from dementia are the most vulnerable to abuse and neglect.

Most nursing homes in Alabama receive federal funding from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). There are federal health and safety standards that nursing home which receives federal funding must comply with, or they can be fined. ProPublica has developed a tool that consumers can use to compare nursing homes in their state based on the deficiencies cited by federal healthcare regulators. It tracks the penalties on a nursing home for the past three years.

  • According to Nursing Home Inspect, the average fine for Alabama nursing homes is 56.8K
  • There have been about .41 severe deficiencies per nursing home
  • There were 12 payment suspensions throughout the state. (TX had the highest at 249, and RI had the lowest at one.

What is nursing home abuse and neglect?

When we entrust our loved ones to the care of a nursing home or an assisted living facility, we expect them to be cared for and protected. However, that is not always the case. Sometimes, nursing home residents are subject to terrible treatment. The following are examples of different forms of abuse and neglect that can take place in nursing homes:

The National Council on Aging (NCOA) lists the following as examples of elder abuse:

  • Physical abuse
  • Sexual abuse
  • Emotional abuse
  • Confinement or isolation
  • Passive neglect, which is the failure of a caregiver to provide an elder with food, clothing, shelter, or medical care
  • Willful deprivation
  • Financial exploitation

The NCOA reports that about one in ten Americans over age 60 have experienced some form of elder abuse, and estimates can range as high as 5 million elders being abused yearly. Elder abuse is woefully underreported, with one study estimating that only about one in 14 cases are reported to authorities.

What are the legal rights of nursing home residents?

CMS, the federal healthcare agency overseeing nursing homes receiving federal funding, has published this list of residents’ rights and protections under federal law. Nursing homes are required to list these items and give all new residents a copy of this list:

  • The right to be treated with dignity and respect.
  • The right to be informed in writing about services and fees before you enter the nursing home.
  • The right to manage your money or choose someone you trust to do this for you.
  • The right to privacy and to keep and use your personal belongings and property as long as it doesn’t interfere with the rights, health, or safety of others.
  • The right to be informed about your medical condition and medications and to see your doctor. You also have the right to refuse medications and treatments.
  • The right to choose your schedule (for example, when you get up and go to sleep), your activities, and other essential preferences.
  • The right to an environment is more like a home that maximizes your comfort and assists you in being as independent as possible.

What are some signs of nursing home abuse or neglect?

An article in NextAvenue.org lists the following six signs of nursing home neglect to look out for if you have a loved one in nursing home care:

  1. Poor personal hygiene. Lack of personal hygiene may be one of the first and most visible signs that nursing home staff are not attending to a loved one’s daily needs.
  2. Unsanitary living conditions. When you walk the halls of a nursing home, there should not be any noticeable, harmful odors in the air. The place should be clean, and the residents should be clean and have good hygiene.
  3. The appearance of malnutrition. A study published in the National Library of Medicine estimates that about 20% of nursing home residents had some form of malnutrition.
  4. Loss or lack of mobility. The nursing home should ensure that the staff helps residents move, be active and exercise as much as possible.
  5. Unexplained injuries. Broken bones, bruises or head injuries might indicate a resident being abused or neglected.
  6. Psychological issues. A nursing home resident who is being abused might show fear of their caregivers and be reluctant to talk about what is happening to them.

One thing you can do when you have a loved one in a nursing home is to visit as often as possible and make some of your visits unannounced. Another thing you can do is to make sure that you report any sign of abuse or neglect to the appropriate authorities.

How to report elder abuse in Alabama

The Alabama department of Senior Services in Montgomery has published The Elder Abuse ProtectionToolkit, which is full of information and resources for preventing elder abuse and neglect.

Alabama Attorney General’s Office Consumer Protection:

  • Adult Abuse Hotline: 1-800-458-7214
  • aps@dhr.alabama.gov

Alabama Department of Public Health:

  • Abuse in a nursing home: 1-800-356-9596
  • Abuse in an assisted living facility: 1-866-873-0366

Elder Justice and Advocacy Program:

  • Phone: 334-242-5743
  • Toll-Free: 877-425-2243
  • E-mail: elderjustice@adss.alabama.gov

Reports can be made anonymously

How much does It cost to hire a nursing home abuse lawyer?

At Mezrano Law Firm, we accept nursing home abuse cases on contingency. This means that you do not pay attorney fees until we have recovered your compensation. So, you can enjoy the benefit of working with an experienced Mobile nursing home abuse lawyer, but you do not have to pay for it upfront. We get paid a percentage of your settlement or jury verdict.

If you have a loved one who is being mistreated in a nursing facility, you don’t have to worry about coming up with the money to pay for a lawyer first because we advance the costs of your case. Contact us today to schedule a consultation to discuss your case.

Trusted representation for victims of nursing home abuse and negligence

After learning that your loved one has suffered abuse or neglect at a nursing home, you may wonder about your legal options. At Mezrano Law Firm, we are here to fight for justice for your loved one.

Call For a FREE Consultation 

Call us at (205) 654-8146 24/7 to arrange to speak with a personal injury lawyer about your case, or contact us through the website today.

Free Consultation

Contact Us Today

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