Nick Johnson asked:


There is absolutely no excuse for nursing home abuse. Any type of physical abuse inside a nursing home is completely despicable and requires immediate action by any family member or family friend who can help the victim.

The fastest way to resolve an abuse suspicion is by hiring a high quality, competent lawyer. Lawsuits hold these places accountable for the damage they cause, and there’s no reason that anyone should allow abuse to happen.

Suspecting abuse is grounds for reporting and hiring a lawyer. A nursing home abuse lawyer can give solid and well founded advice for protecting the victim as well as pursuing a nursing home lawsuit.

Bruises, broken bones, unclean residents, and withdrawn, depressed residents are all signs of abuse. Even just the suspicion of abuse should result in a consultation with a nursing home abuse lawyer, as it can often be disguised as resident clumsiness, or other reasonable explanations.

Reasonable explanations are not always as reasonable as they seem, especially when the resident has a family who stays involved in their care. Residents without involved family members tend to be the victims of abuse before residents with active family visits.

Nursing home lawsuits can still be filed on behalf of those without active family members, although it typically means the victim needs to be willing to testify on at least some level. Any suspicion of abuse, whether it relates directly to a family member or not, should be reported.

Too often, people are afraid to get involved and interfere, even when they know deep down that they should. It’s just like child abuse, it’s everyone’s responsibility to call for help when someone is helpless. A lawyer can discreetly meet with a resident who is being abused but has no family on their behalf. A simple phone call to a lawyer is really all it takes.

Physical abuse in a nursing home is usually obvious after only a few visits. There are only so many excuses the staff and administration can come up with for bumps, bruises, marks, broken bones, and burns before someone realizes that there is abuse written all over every bruise.

It takes so little to help the victim of abuse, even from the inside. A concerned staff member or family friend can place a phone call as easily as anyone else, and in most cases the calls can be confidential.

However, lawsuits do go much easier when there are witness testimonies and people aren’t so afraid to get involved. There really isn’t anything to be lost by getting involved in a lawsuit that is any worse than what the victim of abuse has already lost. Abuse strips away a sense of safety, dignity, the feeling of being cared for and even a sense of humanization.

Lawsuits do not have to be the only answer for an abuse victim, a lawyer can certainly help determine other avenues, however a lawsuit will typically ascertain the funds needed to remove the victim from the premises and locate safer, alternative care.

Caring for a victim takes a very gentle hand, anyone can imagine the fear of the unknown an abuse victim must face. That is why lawyers work so tirelessly and so earnestly to fight for the victim’s rights and compensation. Compensation for abuse can almost always guarantee the victim more choices than they had previously.

A high quality lawyer can file a lawsuit without jeopardizing the health and safety of the abuse victim. However, someone has to be the first to step forward and report their suspicions of abuse, regardless of whether or not they are related to the victim.

It takes a village to raise a child. It takes a community to care for the elderly. It takes just a little bit of selflessness and courage to report abuse. Ignoring abuse is almost as bad as committing it, and turning a cold shoulder to a victim is simply wrong. There is no excuse for abuse, and there is no excuse for ignoring abuse.



Pauline

Nick Johnson asked:


In America today, we have placed nearly 2 million elderly family members under the direct care of a nursing home. Something you probably don’t want to tell grandma or grandpa is that they could very well be living in one of the thousands of homes that have been charged with neglect or abuse.

Take notice. Nursing home neglect is widespread. Unfortunately, as most people grow older, they become more susceptible to negligence and unnecessarily become victims of abuse. Thousands of elderly men and women move into facilities to be cared for by others when they can no longer take care of themselves. Surprisingly, a large number of residents are not being given the care and attention they deserve.

Definition of Nursing Home Neglect:

Whenever the owner or person responsible for taking care of his resident fails to fulfill his obligation, neglect has just occurred. One might say a person has been neglected when the staff of a home is not able to provide the resident with everyday necessities such as water, food, or professional care.

Needless to say, the resident can be afflicted with health problems or injuries as a result of negligence. Various conditions might indicate a resident has been subjected to neglect or abuse. Some signs include cuts, bruising, dehydration, bed sores, symptoms of malnutrition, untreated wounds, behavioral swings, and general unsanitary environments.

Finding a Top Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer:

Whenever you suspect a loved one has suffered from neglect or any form of abuse, it is advisable to call your local police right away and file a formal complaint. After you file a negligence report with the police, the next best thing to do is consult with an experienced nursing home abuse attorney that can handle that type of case in your State.

A top nursing home abuse lawyer will be able to advise you of your legal recourse and represent your loved one if negligence or abuse is apparent. Should your lawyer recommend a lawsuit, the owner and its staff may be convicted of neglect and be held liable for restitution.

Many of us that choose to place our loved one into a facility naturally assume that the nursimanagement and nursing home workers have the residents’ well being in mind. After all, nursing homes are supposed to provide professional care for those that can’t care for themselves, right? As much as we hope Aunt Agnes will be properly cared for, too often we are let down and in some cases our worst fears are realized. Loved ones are being subjected to abuse and neglect, and it’s happening everywhere.

Staff members have been caught in the act of inflicting verbal abuse on elderly home residents. Physical abuse and emotional abuse is just as widespread in American nursing homes today. Any form of abuse is inexcusable because it produces harmful effects to the resident as well as family members of the victim.

There are many signs that could show if your loved one is a victim of physical or emotional abuse at a nursing home: bumps or bruises on the body, cuts and scrapes, lacerations, burns, broken bones, changes in behavior, and mood swings.

If you observe things such as bed sores, poor hygiene and unclean conditions in the nursing home, be aware that these could be additional signs of neglect.

Nursing homes are ordered by the federal and state governments to meet specific requirements regarding the care they provide. This includes making sure an adequate number of professional employees are on hand to care for residents of the home. Unfortunately, many homes will jeopardize the welfare of their elderly residents by not maintaining enough employees to provide care.

There are abuse attorneys who can offer legal solutions if you or a loved one has experienced abuse or neglect. It is imperative that you speak with an experienced nursing home lawyer if you have questions concerning what can be done with your abuse claim. You or your loved one may be entitled to compensation for your damages or suffering.



Maxine