Examples of Nursing Home Abuse
Broadly defined, nursing home abuse occurs when the facility’s staff intentionally harm, neglect, or are negligent in their care of residents. Many examples of nursing home abuse may also be classified as elder abuse and may be subject to reporting. This reporting may lead to criminal sanctions against the abuser
The purpose of a nursing home abuse lawsuit is to seek financial compensation on behalf of the injured party. When a nursing home resident suffers injuries due to the abuse of staff, they can suffer serious and lasting injuries that can cause lasting harm to their physical and emotional health.
Injuries that commonly occur in nursing home abuse cases include:
- Sexual abuse
- Physical abuse
- Financial exploitation
- Neglect of patients
- Unnecessary confinement
- Willful deprivation of a patient’s needs
- Exclusion from family members
- Emotional abuse
These injuries may be compensable with significant financial compensation after a McDonald At Law attorney helps the plaintiff pursue a successful elder abuse lawsuit.
Looking for Signs of Nursing Home Abuse
There are signs that nursing home abuse may be occurring to a loved one, such as the sudden loss of a resident’s valuable possessions. Other signs of financial exploitation can include over-billing, sudden changes in wills or other financial planning, draining of bank accounts, or even suspicious purchases or “gifts.”
Signs of physical abuse may take the form of bruises, broken bones, unexplained medical conditions, or other harm attributed to accidental causes that does not appear consistent with the staff’s explanations. Staff may attempt to downplay or hide signs of abuse that may raise a family member’s suspicions. Sexual abuse may be detected by examining a resident’s comments and reports or an unexplained venereal disease.
Residents may suffer emotional abuse such as isolation from their families, insults or unkind comments, or degrading treatment from staff members. Emotional abuse can cause patients to suddenly change their behavior, seem like they are hiding something, or exhibit odd behavior unrelated to their medical conditions.
Compensation in Abuse Cases
If a nursing home is abusing a resident, they or their loved ones should contact a qualified elder abuse lawyer in Lancaster for help. A successful lawsuit could end the abuse and ensure that the injured party receives financial compensation for their suffering. Compensation may include:
- Costs of medical treatment
- Rehabilitation costs
- Reimbursement of fees or other financial losses
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Wrongful death
The assistance of skilled legal counsel could make a significant difference in the outcome of a plaintiff’s case, which is why it could be crucial to enlist professional help as soon as the first signs of abuse are detected.
A Lancaster Elder Abuse Attorney Could take on Your Case
Nursing home abuse is a very serious matter. If you or your elderly loved one have suffered this type of abuse, or this harm is suspected, you should contact a Lancaster elder abuse lawyer right away. This behavior should be reported to the authorities as soon as possible so that it does not continue within the facility.
Call today to set up a consultation and get started on your claim.
McDonald At Law helps people with Personal Injury matters in the following locations: Berks County, Bucks County, Chester County, Cumberland County, Dauphin County, Delaware County, Lebanon County, Montgomery County, Philadelphia County, and York County.