We have hundreds of long-term care facilities and assisted living facilities scattered around the state, with many rights here in Montgomery. Placing an elderly loved one into a nursing home can be difficult but necessary for many older people when their medical and day-to-day living needs can no longer be met. We expect these homes and facilities to treat our loved ones with compassionate and professional care. If a senior suffers injury due to a nursing home’s negligence or carelessness, the nursing home staff, management, or other entity can be found responsible. You and your family have legal options, as nursing homes owe their residents a high duty of care. Suppose your loved one was harmed due to neglect or carelessness at their elder home or facility. In that case, the nursing home abuse attorneys at Mezrano Law Firm in Montgomery can work with you to hold the guilty parties accountable.
Our team of experienced personal injury attorneys will work quickly to investigate the situation and build a strong case for your loved one. We understand this is a challenging time for you and your family, so we strive to make the process as stress-free as possible. There is no upfront charge to begin work on a nursing home abuse claim, and you only pay us if we recover money for you. To learn more about suing a nursing home for negligence and how we can help, contact us today for a free consultation.
Becoming a senior citizen or moving into a nursing home or assisted living facility doesn’t mean someone loses their rights. Federal law provides nursing home residents certain rights, as outlined by Medicare.gov:
Understanding your loved one’s rights (or your rights) is imperative – as imperative as understanding you have the right to fight back. Document your experiences with nursing home administration and consult with experienced nursing home injury and negligence lawyers to learn more about your options.
Mezrano Law Firm works on a contingency. A contingency fee basis means the law firm will not charge you anything unless you win a settlement or in court. A contingency fee ensures the victim pays nothing out of pocket and that the law firm works hard for your case. We also offer contingency for other areas of practice, such as:
As our senior population grows, many elder care facilities find themselves understaffed and with too few nursing home workers with the proper training to care for our elderly loved ones. This increases the risk elderly residents can becoming victims of abuse or neglect.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about one in six people aged 60 years and older experienced some abuse in community settings in 2018. And they report that rates of elder abuse are high in institutions like nursing homes, with two out of three staff admitting they had committed some abuse in the past year. This type of abuse and neglect occurs when doctors, nurses, staff or orderlies are negligent, creating an unsafe environment for residents.
Types of nursing home abuse and neglect can include:
Physical abuse means using some physical force on an elderly person that causes harm or physical pain. This can include:
Physical abuse can also include sexual assault from the nursing home staff.
This is inflicting mental pain and distress by verbal or nonverbal aggression. Emotional abuse could be insults, humiliation, intimidation or harassment. Your loved one may be isolated from activities, friends and family. Prolonged emotional abuse can cause long-term trauma.
Financial abuse is improperly – or illegally – using an elderly person’s financial assets. This could include taking cash, forging signatures, signing their checks, stealing possessions, or coercing them to sign important documents.
Sexual abuse in nursing homes is an all-too-common occurrence that can lead to devastating psychological and physical consequences for helpless elderly residents. Victims often feel too ashamed to report the abuse, resulting in their perpetrators going undetected and unpunished. This type of abuse can take many forms, including:
Additionally, staff may not be adequately trained to identify signs of possible sexual abuse or neglect by caregivers. It is essential to recognize this type of abuse and address it head-on; victims should never feel ashamed or afraid to come forward and seek help.
Our job is to ensure the negligent and guilty parties are brought to justice and that your loved one is compensated for their injuries and losses.
Nursing home negligence is when the care provided by a nursing home does not meet accepted standards, resulting in injury or death to the patient. It may include not providing proper medical treatment, hygiene, nutrition, and physical activity; neglecting nursing home residents’ needs for socialization; or failing to ensure that staff members are adequately trained and supervised.
The most common sign of negligence is the elderly person has bed sores.
Elder abuse and neglect can result in some severe injuries. Families of senior citizens should keep an eye out for injuries like the following:
These can happen from staff dropping a patient while moving them or when a resident falls while not being adequately monitored.
Typically resulting from falls, the elderly can fracture and break bones easily due to osteoporosis. A lack of monitoring combined with messy or slippery floors can lead to broken hips or wrists. Broken bones can take a long time to heal, with the risk of complications.
Many falls can lead to head injuries. Be alert to symptoms of head injuries, like confusion, cognitive difficulties, and decreased levels of consciousness.
Infections are often the result of bedsores or poor hygiene. Even minor infections in the elderly can quickly spiral out of control if not caught and treated quickly.
Nursing home neglect and abuse can have devastating consequences for residents, so it’s important to be aware of the signs. One of the most common signs is soiled clothing or bed linens, which can cause bed sores and infections.
Other signs of abuse are:
Suppose you believe your loved one has experienced neglect, abuse or even medical malpractice at their nursing home, elder care or assisted living facility. In that case, they may be eligible for financial compensation for their injuries and damages. When a nursing home facility fails to protect its residents because of a negligent or abusive staff member, caregiver or even another resident, it could be held liable for the victim’s injuries.
Possible compensation may include:
Personal injury matters like these are time sensitive. Contact our nursing home abuse attorneys as soon as possible so we can protect your right to compensation.
Mezrano Law Firm understands the devastation families experience after discovering their loved one has experienced neglect or abuse. Our nursing home injury attorneys will stand up for your family member’s rights and ensure they receive the protection and the financial compensation they deserve.