Each year in the U.S. up to 2.1 million nursing home residents fall victim to some type of abuse or neglect while in another’s care. Experts also believe that for every reported case, at least five more are unreported.
Nursing home abuse can be classified into four common categories: sexual, emotional, financial and physical. If you notice unexplainable cuts, broken bones, bruises or blood or torn clothing, your loved one may be suffering from physical abuse.
Emotional abuse can take on several forms, including yelling, ignoring, mocking, intimidating, terrorizing, humiliating and isolating the elder from other residents or from group activities. The nursing home or its staff may try to financially abuse him or her by withdrawing money, misusing his or her credit cards or checks, forging signatures or stealing his or her identity, money, checks or belongings.
A New York nursing home abuse lawyer can help you if you feel that your loved one has become a victim of nursing home abuse. Depending on the circumstances surrounding your case, you may be able to seek compensation for pain and suffering, emotional trauma and medical treatments. It is important to seek legal counsel as soon as you believe that you have a case; the longer you wait, the greater chance there is that the alleged abuse will continue.
An experienced New York nursing home abuse lawyer can also interview medical experts, speak to the nursing home and, if necessary, work with local law enforcement agencies to determine who is responsible for the alleged abuse. If you are faced with this situation, the most important thing to consider is getting your loved one help; an attorney can handle the logistics of the abuse claim and allow your family the time you need to heal and recover from these traumatic events.
Contact a New York Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer at the First Sign of Neglect
If you believe that the nursing home in which your loved one is residing is covering up an accident, fails to provide him or her with medication, physically mistreats him or her or is verbally abusive, contact Attorney Group for New York today. There is no cost to speak with us, and we can help you determine if you are eligible to pursue a claim against those allegedly responsible for your loved one’s suffering. We can connect you with an affiliated New York Nursing home abuse lawyer who can inform you of your options and assist you in seeking the compensation to which you may be entitled.
