When you bring your loved one to a nursing home, you expect that staff members will treat them with the utmost respect and care. All too often, however, nursing home residents fall prey to abuse or neglect due to overcrowded conditions and/or underpaid and overworked staff members. If this kind of situation results in injuries to a family member, you may want to contact a Reading nursing home abuse lawyer about possible means of legal recourse.
You may be able to seek damages on behalf of your loved one who has suffered injuries as the result of actions or inaction by nursing homes staff members. Failing to properly care for nursing home residents and meet their physical and emotional needs can result in severe harm, and an experienced personal injury attorney could evaluate the circumstances that led to your family member’s injuries and determine whether a claim for compensation is likely to be effective.
Sources of Abuse in Nursing Homes
Despite the high costs of assisted living for loved ones, the nursing home industry continues to be plagued by low wages, untrained staff, inadequate staffing, and high turnover rates. All these situations can lead to severe neglect to residents by staff members.
Whether it is abuse or neglect that specifically injures nursing home occupants, assisted living communities may be responsible for the costs of any damages that their residents suffer due to their wrongful, negligent, or intentionally harmful conduct. Common signs of nursing home abuse can include:
- Unexplained bruises, cuts, sprains, and fractures
- Bedsores, poor hygiene, and other signs of inadequate care
- Sudden changes in behavior, including withdrawal, complaints of pain, lethargy, listlessness, and constant sleepiness
- Lack of communication with family members by nursing home staff or refusal to allow access to residents when requested
In addition to physical abuse and neglect, nursing home residents may experience sexual abuse, either from staff members or other residents. Financial exploitation is another concern, leading to the loss of personal property and funds for those living in assisted living communities. A Reading nursing home abuse attorney can help identify signs of abuse and neglect and work to secure compensation for the harm suffered. Knowing how to spot nursing home abuse is essential to protecting vulnerable residents and addressing these issues promptly.
Damages in Assisted Living Abuse Claims
If nursing home residents sustain injuries as a result of abuse or inadequate care, they may be entitled to seek damages from the nursing homes that have allowed their suffering to occur. Potential damages may include reimbursement for medical bills and expenses related to their injuries, financial losses resulting from economic exploitation by staff members, costs of relocating the residents to other facilities, and mental pain and suffering. In particularly egregious cases, nursing home residents also may be able to seek punitive damages for the injuries that staff has caused them through abusive or neglectful actions.
Nursing home residents have rights that nursing homes and their staff members must respect. When nursing homes violate these rights, residents may be entitled to compensation. As an assisted living abuse lawyer in Reading may advise, individuals who suspect nursing home abuse should take steps to get necessary medical care for their loved ones, gather evidence and documentation of abuse or neglect, report the incidents to nursing home officials and state agencies as needed, and remove them from the abusive environment.
Consult a Reading Nursing Home Abuse Attorney for Advice
Nursing homes often deny or attempt to cover up abuse or neglect that has occurred to residents, and they are likely to take all efforts necessary to avoid liability and any acknowledgment of responsibility for their actions. As a result, you may need the advice of a Reading nursing home abuse lawyer to hold these nursing homes accountable for their misconduct.
In this devastating situation, you deserve legal counsel from someone who can adequately represent your interests and achieve your goals. Focus on providing a better future for your loved one today by seeking the legal advice that you may need. Contact an personal injury attorney today to discuss your case and explore your legal options.