What Constitutes as Nursing Home Neglect?
According to the World Health Organization, one in six people over the age of 60 suffered neglect and elderly abuse — that’s around five million older Americans each year. Sadly, many cases are not reported to the correct authorities. Moreover, many cases of abuse happen inside nursing homes, where our elderly loved ones are supposed to feel safe and cared for.
Our skilled nursing home abuse lawyers have helped countless families seek justice and compensation for the horrors their loved ones went through.
What is Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect?
Nursing home abuse is a form of abuse or neglect committed against elderly nursing home residents. Abuse often involves violence and physical or mental harm. Meanwhile, negligence generally results from failure to properly care for and attend to the nursing home resident’s needs. Residents in New Jersey nursing homes have laws to protect them called Resident’s Rights. When the rights of residents are violated by the nursing home, the results are often catastrophic and can lead to serious injury and death.
Individuals who experienced elder neglect or abuse as a nursing home resident can seek legal action and financial compensation with the help of a nursing home abuse lawyer.
Kinds of Abuse in an Elderly Assisted Living Facility
There are different ways that nursing homes can inflict abuse on their residents. Consulting a nursing home abuse attorney can help confirm suspicions of neglect or elder abuse. Nursing home lawyers can also provide more insight into the types and warning signs of abuse to improve your case. These include:
- Physical abuse or neglect: This type of abuse generally involves violence, restraints, or punishments resulting in serious injuries. Common physical signs of nursing home abuse include fractures, falls, dehydration, malnutrition, and bed sores.
- Mental, emotional, or psychological abuse: Verbal examples of psychological abuse include insulting, guilt-tripping, and intimidating or threatening patients. Non-verbal neglect can include isolating residents from others, giving them the “silent treatment,” or withholding food, water, and other essentials.
- Sexual abuse: Although women are more likely to experience it, elderly sexual abuse happens to both men and women. It can be in the form of rape, forced nudity, unwelcome intimate touches, or taking sexually explicit photos and videos.
What to do in Case of Nursing Home Neglect?
If you suspect an elderly loved one is suffering from nursing home negligence or abuse, make sure to contact the authorities. Local police and emergency services can offer immediate assistance for suspected severe or dangerous elder abuse cases.
It’s essential to report nursing home neglect as soon as possible to prevent worse outcomes and ensure the residents’ safety.
Contact Rossetti & DeVoto, PC
You need more than just medical records to win your case if you want legal action. You will need the help of an experienced lawyer because nursing home abuse cases can be complex and sometimes challenging to prove in a court of law.
Getting in touch with a trusted and capable legal firm will help you strengthen your nursing home abuse lawsuit. Rossetti & DeVoto, PC has a team of experienced and knowledgeable nursing home abuse attorneys to aid in receiving your just compensation.
Call 856-475-8261 today for a free consultation with an experienced nursing home abuse lawyer.
