Tuscaloosa Nursing Home Injury Lawyer

Moving into a nursing home or assisted living facility does not and should not mean giving up your basic human rights. When you make the difficult decision to place your loved one into a nursing home, or if your loved one makes that choice themself, you trust and expect staff will care for them and protect them from harm. Contact a Tuscaloosa Nursing Home Injury Lawyer from Mezrano Law Firm today.

Unfortunately, sometimes there’s a gap between the standard of care the law requires and the standard of care actually provided. When nursing homes put profits over the health and well being of the people they care for, elderly residents can suffer serious injury – whether from neglect or actual acts of abuse. The most tragic aspect of nursing home negligence is that many residents and patients are unable or afraid to speak up.

If you suspect that a loved one is being neglected or harmed in their nursing homes, talk to the Tuscaloosa lawyers at Mezrano Law Firm. We can recognize the signs of abuse and negligence, and help protect the rights of your loved one. Talk to our legal team today.

Tuscaloosa nursing home residents’ rights

The law requires senior living facilities and nursing homes to provide their residents with an extensive list of rights. Medicare.gov clearly outlines these rights:

• “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 own 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 to be as independent as possible.”

As compassionate and experienced attorneys, our goal is to both ensure your loved one is compensated for their injuries and losses as well as deter other nursing homes from similar negligent behavior.

Types of nursing home neglect and abuse

Many Tuscaloosa elder and long-term care facilities are finding themselves understaffed, and as a result, some hired staff who are either improperly trained, improperly screened, or both. This poses a risk to your loved one, allowing them to become a victim of abuse or neglect.

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that approximately one in six people aged 60 years and older experienced abuse in community settings in 2018. Further, the report states rates of elder abuse are high in institutions like nursing homes.

• Physical abuse. Physical abuse can encompass slapping, hitting, choking, kicking, and more. It also includes the inappropriate use of drugs to restrain a patient or resident chemically.
• Emotional abuse. Threatening, harassing, or intimidating a vulnerable person and causing them to fear, humiliation or other emotional distress also counts as abuse.
• Sexual abuse. Sexual abuse in a nursing home is alarming in cases where a resident is incapacitated, and the staff member is in a position of authority. Note that sexual abuse may not involve touching but can involve any non-consensual act.
• Financial abuse. Senior citizens can be easy targets for theft and exploitation and may be easily scammed or convinced to give away money and savings. They may also fall victim to identity theft or false facility medical charges.
• Neglect. Neglect can include anything from not providing adequate nutrition to leaving a resident unattended for long periods. One of the most common signs of neglect is bedsores, which occur when someone is left lying or sitting in the same position for too long. Without attention, bedsores can become deep and infected.

As attorneys, we must ensure the negligent parties are held accountable and that your loved one is protected.

Common Tuscaloosa nursing home injuries

Our older population is indeed more vulnerable to certain diseases and infections. However, certain common injuries seen in nursing home negligence cases are typically preventable and may be a sign of a problem. These can include:

• Abdominal infections
• Bed sores
• Bone fractures and breaks
• Chronic respiratory infections
• Dehydration and malnutrition
• Falls
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Unexplained bruises or bleeding
• Urinary tract infections
• Weight loss
• Wrongful death

If you feel your loved one is experiencing nursing home neglect and harm, our lawyers can help you find out who’s responsible and hold them accountable for their actions.

Compensation for Tuscaloosa nursing home injuries

If your loved one suffered injury or harm because of a failure of nursing home or facility staff, they may be eligible to seek compensation for their losses. Whether they experienced neglect, abuse or even medical malpractice, it’s likely someone failed in their duty of care and that person (or entity) must be held responsible.

This can include financial compensation for:

• Medical expenses, current and future
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment of life

If negligence resulted in the death of your loved, you may be eligible to file a wrongful death claim. Our compassionate legal team can help you with every aspect of this process during this tragic time. We will work to our utmost to ensure justice is served and your family is compensated.

Experienced Tuscaloosa nursing home injury attorneys

At Mezrano Law Firm, our lawyers help victims of nursing home negligence secure the compensation they need.