Millions of elderly Americans live in licensed nursing home facilities, and sadly, some of them will likely experience some form of abuse while in nursing care. The world’s elderly population is growing quickly, and California is no exception. According to the State of California Department of Justice, the population of residents aged 65 and older will increase to 6.4 million by 2025, a higher growth rate than any other state.
With a large population already in nursing homes, and with a growing number of potential residents, it is important to fight for your loved one’s rights and seek financial justice if they suffered from nursing home abuse. For more information about how an attorney may be able to help with your case, contact Ben Crump Law, PLLC, at 800-959-1444.
Possible Awards in a Nursing Home Abuse Case
It can be a difficult decision to place your parent, spouse, or loved one into a nursing home. Learning that the place you have chosen for their care may be responsible for harming them can be devastating, but it is not your fault.
If your loved one is suffering abuse in a nursing home, a Sacramento nursing home abuse lawyer may be able to help you seek compensation for your loved one’s illness, injury, or death. You may be entitled to:
- Medical expenses. You may be awarded compensation for the costs of your loved one’s medical care, including medications, surgery, hospital stays, physical therapy, and more.
- Pain and suffering. You may be able to seek awards for your loved one’s stress, anxiety, mental anguish, or loss of enjoyment of life.
- Personal property. You may be able to recover the costs of your loved one’s stolen or misused assets.
- Wrongful death. If your loved one recently died because of nursing home abuse, you may be able to seek compensation on their behalf, as well as file a wrongful death lawsuit.
For a free legal consultation with a nursing home abuse lawyer serving Sacramento, call 800-712-9119
Warning Signs of Abuse in a Nursing Home
Often, the conditions that require an older adult to live in a nursing home are the same as those that may increase their risk for abuse, such as functional impairment, poor physical health, or dementia. Chronic physical and mental health problems may make a resident entirely dependent on nursing home staff and unable to report abuse.
Family members should be alert to the signs of elder abuse. Problems within the facility itself may be one of the first indications there is a problem. These include:
- High staff turnover
- Unanswered phones and call bells
- Disorganized and frantic staff
- Lack of improvements in the facility
Staff should appear calm, organized, and friendly, and they should be ready and willing to answer questions about your loved one’s care. The facility itself should be clean and welcoming.
Other warning signs of abuse may include:
- Unexplained cuts, burns, scars, bruises, or other injuries
- Lack of mobility assistance
- Poor hygiene, such as lack of bathing and dental care, or dirty hair and clothing
- Bedsores
- Weight loss
- Excessive instances of falls and accidents
- Malnourishment
- Dehydration
- Lack of assistance with toileting or failure to change soiled diapers or clothing
- Changes in behavior, including depression, acting violent or aggressive, becoming withdrawn, or no longer participating in activities
Sacramento Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Near Me 800-712-9119
Types of Abuse
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), elder abuse can be:
Physical: The willful use of physical force can cause illness, pain, injury, or problems with the body working normally. Hitting, shoving, scratching, force-feeding, and rough handling are all forms of this kind of force.
Emotional: Emotional abuse, also called mental or physiological abuse, includes verbal and nonverbal threats that cause one to feel mental distress, fear, or anguish. Threats, humiliation, harassments, or even ignoring or isolating a resident, are all forms of emotional abuse.
Sexual: This includes any type of unwanted sexual interaction, including sexual harassment.
Financial: Financial abuse is the illegal, improper, and unauthorized use of a resident’s money or other assets, such as property, belongings, or benefits.
Neglect: Neglect is the failure to provide for a resident’s basic needs, including food, shelter, clothing, hygiene, and healthcare. Neglect can be intentional, or it can happen when nursing home staff is overworked or not properly trained.
How to Report Abuse in California
In California, the Center for Health Care Quality’s (CHCQ) Licensing and Certification Program is responsible for nursing home regulation in the state. If you suspect abuse or substandard care, the most immediate way to report it is online with the California Health Facility Information Database.
Complaints involving immediate danger, death, or serious bodily harm must be completed within 90 days, and complaints must be investigated inside of 60 days.
You should also file a detailed written report with the nursing home administration, local law enforcement, adult protective services, or an agency that advocates for the elderly. If you see abuse as it is happening, call 911.
You may also wish to contact a Sacramento nursing home abuse lawyer. An attorney can help you investigate and prove your claims of abuse and can help you through the legal process. To learn more about how a lawyer can help, contact the team at Ben Crump Law, PLLC, for guidance.
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Ben Crump Law, PLLC Can Help You Fight for Awards
Elder abuse should never be tolerated. Those who harm the most vulnerable members of our society should be held accountable for their wrongful actions. At Ben Crump Law, PLLC, we believe in giving a voice to the voiceless and helping families fight for justice.
A Sacramento nursing home abuse lawyer can help you through every step of your case, easing the legal burden so you can focus on your loved one’s recovery and care. An attorney can help you identify who is liable for harming your loved one, gather evidence to support your case, and make sure you are seeking all the damages you may be owed.
You do not have to stand up to nursing home abuse alone. We have helped thousands of clients nationwide achieve millions of dollars in successful settlements, and we may be able to help you, too. We work on a contingency fee basis, so we do not take a fee unless we win your case.
To learn more about how Ben Crump Law, PLLC, may be able to help, call 800-959-1444 for a risk-free consultation.
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