Seek Legal Justice For Nursing Home Abuse
Unfortunately, nursing home abuse is far too common in California, and can take many forms including negligence and physical abuse. If your loved one has suffered, we can help. The network of attorneys at Justice for Elders are ready to provide legal representation to nursing home abuse victims and help them receive the compensation they deserve.
Contact us for a free consultation today
Defenders of Our Elders
The network of attorneys at Justice for Elders have extensive experience successfully handling elder abuse and nursing home neglect claims on behalf of our clients. We provide dedicated representation and fight tirelessly to get justice for the wrongdoing our clients have experienced.
If you or a loved one is suffering from abuse in a nursing home, reach out to us for a free case evaluation.
Duty of Care
Nursing homes and elder care facilities have a “duty of care” to residents because residents depend on staff and employees for food, safe shelter, hygiene, and medical care.
Injuries and health complications can result if this standard is not met.
These injuries include but are not limited to bedsores, broken bones, concussions, falls and fractures, spinal injuries, and infections.
Signs of Abuse
Common signs of abuse in a nursing home facility can vary depending on the type of abuse—whether it’s physical, emotional, financial, or neglect. Some of the most common signs to look for include:
Unexplained Injuries: This includes bruises, cuts, fractures, or burns that cannot be easily explained or appear frequently.
Poor Hygiene or Unsanitary Conditions: If the resident appears unclean, has soiled clothing, or the facility itself is unsanitary, it may indicate neglect.
Sudden Weight Loss or Dehydration: Unexplained changes in weight or signs of malnutrition and dehydration could suggest neglect or poor care.
Emotional Withdrawal or Changes in Behavior: A previously social or responsive resident becoming withdrawn, anxious, or fearful might indicate emotional or psychological abuse.
Bedsores or Pressure Ulcers: The presence of bedsores, particularly in areas where the skin is thin, is often a sign of neglect, especially if the resident is immobile.
Unexplained Financial Changes: Sudden changes in finances, missing funds, or unusual bank account activity may signal financial abuse.
Elopement: Elopement occurs when a resident leaves the premises unnoticed or unsupervised. This is especially dangerous for individuals with dementia, Alzheimer’s, or cognitive impairments. The consequences can be devastating, including exposure to extreme weather, traffic accidents, injuries, or even death.
Fear of Caregivers: If the resident appears fearful or anxious around certain staff members, it could be a red flag for abuse.
Medication Errors: Signs of overmedication, under-medication, or missed doses could indicate neglect or intentional abuse.
Lack of Mobility Aids: If a resident is not provided with necessary mobility devices (such as a wheelchair or walker), it could be a sign of neglect.
Isolation from Others: If the resident is suddenly restricted from seeing family, friends, or other residents, it could be an indicator of abuse or neglect.
Repeat Falls: Repeat Falls are another common yet preventable hazard. When a resident suffers multiple falls, it often points to neglect, poor supervision, or unsafe conditions within the facility. Repeated falls can result in fractures, head trauma, and a rapid decline in health.
If you notice any of these signs, it’s important to take action immediately to ensure the safety and well-being of your loved one.
Common Injuries and Types of Abuse in California Nursing Homes
Nursing home injuries can take many forms. However, some frequent injuries that result in lawsuits are bed sores, broken bones, weight loss, and wrongful death.
Bed Sores
Bed sores are serious injuries that are commonly seen in nursing home abuse cases. Bed sores are pressure ulcers on the skin that develop when a small area of the body is put under pressure for an extended time. Patients with mobility issues are at an increased risk of suffering from bed sores. They are commonly found in areas with thin skin like the tailbone, buttocks, and heels, but can happen anywhere on the body. With proper attention, bed sores are treatable and highly preventable, but once they begin to progress they can quickly lead to life-threatening conditions like MRSA, infections and sepsis. A deep bed sore should never form inside a healthcare facility. This is why bed sores are the most common injury type in California nursing home negligence litigation.
Falls
Falls are common among seniors and can be accidents. But if a patient is a known fall risk, they should receive proper supervision and support in the form of rails, alarms or pads, and any trip hazards should be removed from their living areas. Broken hips, femur fractures, subdural hematomas (brain bleeds) and other unexplained injuries can all result from falls in nursing homes. When we investigate a nursing home fall case, unfortunately, more often than not we determine that the fall could have been prevented if the nursing home staff acted appropriately.
Dehydration and Weight Loss
Malnutrition and dehydration happens in nursing homes when the staff fails to attend to the specific dietary needs of its patients. While these conditions are dangerous enough on their own, improper assistance from caregivers during mealtimes can be potentially lethal as well, exposing vulnerable seniors to the risk of choking or aspiration pneumonia as food “goes down the wrong pipe” and into the lungs. If a resident loses more than 10% of their body weight or becomes severely dehydrated, it is likely that staff failed to assist them with nutrition and hydration. Failing to provide food or water to a vulnerable resident is a prime example of California elder abuse and neglect.
Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse is another potential form of abuse that cannot be ignored in California’s nursing homes. The elderly often struggle with memory issues and general confusion, which can make them targets for sexual predators. Signs of sexual abuse to be aware of include withdrawal or anxiety related to certain parts of the body, the development of unexplained STDs, and bruising and bleeding or pain in the genitals, thighs or breasts. As with the victims of other forms of abuse, sexual abuse victims may feel too ashamed to admit what happened, may not remember it or may be simply unable to communicate what took place. Any form of rape inside a California nursing home must be reported and investigated immediately.
Physical Assault
Physical attacks should never occur inside a California healthcare facility. Many of our nursing home assault cases involve resident on resident violence. Some more shocking cases involve staff versus resident assault. Regardless of who perpetrated the violence, skilled nursing facilities are supposed to be safe places for our vulnerable family members. A nursing home assault or attack is inexcusable.
As the loved one or guardian of a nursing home resident, you must keep the potential for any of these scenarios in mind and know what to do if you witness any of the aforementioned “red flags” of abuse. If your loved one unfortunately suffered any of the above red-flag injuries inside a facility, contact our California nursing home abuse attorneys today to learn more about your legal rights.
How Do I Start the Process Of Filing a Legal Case?
The best way to determine your eligibility is by answering a few short questions with our team to find out whether you might have a case. If you do, our network or experienced attorneys will help you fill out the necessary paperwork to seek compensation.
We understand that reporting abuse in nursing facilities, especially when a loved one is involved, can be incredibly challenging. However, remaining silent can only worsen the situation. If you discover that an elder is being physically, mentally, or financially abused at a nursing home, contact Justice for Elders immediately for prompt assistance. We are committed to every client and work tirelessly to ensure justice is served.
Contact Us Today To Schedule A Free Consultation
How Do I Start the Process Of Filing a Legal Case?
The best way to determine your eligibility is by answering a few short questions with our team to find out whether you might have a case. If you do, our network or experienced attorneys will help you fill out the necessary paperwork to seek compensation.
We understand that reporting abuse in nursing facilities, especially when a loved one is involved, can be incredibly challenging. However, remaining silent can only worsen the situation. If you discover that an elder is being physically, mentally, or financially abused at a nursing home, contact Justice for Elders immediately for prompt assistance. We are committed to every client and work tirelessly to ensure justice is served.
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