Nursing home abuse and neglect is becoming a more common occurrence each day in the country. In many facilities, what actually happens behind closed doors is far from what families of those in the care of the homes expect. Placing a loved one into a nursing home or assisted living facility is often an emotionally heart-wrenching choice that few would like to make. However, each year, millions of families choose these facilities with hopes that the nursing home will be able to continue to provide and uphold the patient’s quality of life.
What is Elder Abuse?
According to statistics, each year in the U.S., 2.1 million senior citizens fall victim to some form of elder abuse. Unfortunately, for each one of the reported cases of nursing home abuse, as many as five or more may go unreported. Additionally, several studies have concluded that those who have been mistreated in assisted nursing home facilities are more likely to die than those who did not, even when health conditions are taken into consideration.
Senior citizen abuse may come in many forms: physical, financial, sexual and emotional. If you suspect your loved one is suffering and you note the following signs of abuse, contact a California nursing home abuse attorney as soon as possible:
- Physical: Bloody or torn clothing, broken bones, unexplained bruises and cuts:
- Financial: Identity theft, forged signatures, stolen money, belongings or checks, unauthorized withdrawals, misuse of the elder’s checks, accounts or credit cards
- Sexual: Bloody undergarments, veneral disease, bruises around the genital region, bleeding around the genital or anal area
- Emotional: Intimidation or humiliation through yelling or threats, mocking, terrorizing, ignoring or isolating the elder from other residents and/or activities
It is important to seek legal counsel from a California nursing home abuse attorney as he or she can review the situation, gather evidence, conduct interviews and speak to the appropriate parties to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident. A California nursing home abuse attorney may be able to file a lawsuit on behalf of your loved one to recover damages for pain and suffering and medical expenses that are required as a result of mistreatment or neglect.
Do You Need a California nursing home abuse attorney?
If you or a loved one have suffered nursing home abuse in California and you would like to learn more about your legal rights, contact Attorney Group for California. Whether a nursing home covers up an accident, physically mistreats a loved one, is verbally abusive or fails to provide a loved one with necessary medication, nursing home abuse comes in a myriad of forms. Attorney Group for California can work to answer your questions and address your concerns. We can provide you with a free, no-obligation case evaluation and connect you with a California nursing home abuse attorney.
