Watching your loved one suffer from nursing home abuse or neglect can be heartbreaking. Unfortunately, nursing home abuse is not uncommon. According to a study published in the National Research Council (US) Panel to Review Risk and Prevalence of Elder Abuse and Neglect, as many as 2.5 million elderly living in residential long-term care facilities might be at a higher risk of suffering from abuse than those living at home.
If your loved one is suffering from abuse in a nursing home, you do not have to stand for it and may be able to hold the facility to account. See how a St. Petersburg nursing home abuse lawyer from Ben Crump Law, PLLC can help you with your case by calling: (800) 712-9119.
Types of Nursing Home Abuse
Nursing home abuse can come in many different forms and can range from not offering assistance with daily tasks to physical assaults. Types of nursing home abuse and neglect can include:
For a free legal consultation with a nursing home abuse lawyer serving St.Petersburg, call (800) 712-9119
General Neglect
If residents do not receive consistent and timely help with basic tasks such as eating, drinking, and personal hygiene, they may be suffering from nursing home abuse and neglect. Residents suffering from general neglect can appear unclean and unkempt, may wear stained and dirty clothing, and may suffer from dehydration or malnutrition.
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Physical Violence
Physical violence constitutes any deliberate acts to inflict harm on an elderly nursing home resident, such as punching, kicking, or hitting them. Physical abuse can leave various signs on the body of the senior, for example, bruises, broken bones, cuts, or burns.
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Emotional and Verbal Abuse
Nursing home residents can suffer from emotional abuse when staff belittles, ignores, or humiliates them. While it can be difficult to spot this type of abuse, an emotionally abused senior may show changes in personality or withdraw from social activities. They may also appear fearful and try to avoid certain caregivers.
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Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse in the nursing home includes any non-consensual sexual acts as well as sexual videos, photographs, and unwanted nudity. Cognitively impaired residents, including those suffering from dementia, are at particular risk of sexual abuse, according to the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care. Signs of sexual abuse can be bruising or bleeding in the genital area, sexually transmitted infections, and torn or bloody clothing, among others.
Financial Abuse
Nursing home residents can also suffer from financial abuse. Signs that staff or others may have been committing this type of abuse can be missing funds in bank accounts, unpaid bills, and suddenly changed wills.
Any type of nursing home abuse is shocking and illegal. However, standing up to a nursing home can be challenging, and you may not know where to start in order to get justice for your loved one. Your St. Petersburg nursing home abuse lawyer can assist you.
You Can Take Action
First, your priority will be to keep your loved one safe, and this may entail moving them out of the nursing home if they suffer from any type of abuse. Next, you may want to file a report with law enforcement and the authorities.
Collecting evidence of abuse will be important, especially if you intend to pursue legal recourse for your loved one’s suffering. Evidence can include any medical reports and pictures of the injuries, as well as witness statements. You may also wish to make comprehensive notes of your findings. A lawyer can help you with collecting evidence to strengthen your case.
You can potentially hold the nursing home to account for its failures. You and your loved one could potentially receive compensation that could help with expenses and provide some comfort. Compensation can include awards for:
- Medical bills and future medical costs related to the abuse
- Medical devices
- Transportation costs
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental anguish and distress
If a nursing home acted particularly egregiously, you might also receive punitive awards.
Sadly, some injuries from abuse can prove fatal. If the worst happened and your loved one passed away due to nursing home abuse or neglect, you could file a wrongful death lawsuit.
Timely action is of the essence when it comes to filing nursing home abuse claims. Florida Statutes § 95.11 generally limits plaintiffs to filing suit within four years in a personal injury case. In wrongful death cases, your window to file suit is even shorter, and you may only have two years from the date of death.
In some rare cases, you could file a lawsuit even once those deadlines have passed. A lawyer can advise you on your options. Generally, it is advisable to start the process of getting justice sooner, rather than later.
Your St. Petersburg Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Can Help
It can be tough to stand up against a nursing home and their team of lawyers. You will need compelling evidence to prove their abuse or neglect. You may also need expert witnesses for your case. The entire process of filing a nursing home abuse claim can be challenging. However, you are not alone, and we are here for you.
Nursing homes can be negligent in many ways, for example, by having negligent hiring practices, or simply not having enough staff on the premises to ensure that all residents are well cared for. A facility may not be providing adequate security to ensure that residents are free from abuse from other residents, guests, or third-party contractors, for example. A nursing home lawyer knows the applicable laws and can establish negligence, which is crucial in order to have a case against a nursing home.
We are on your side and believe that nursing home abuse is unacceptable. Our senior citizens have the right to be treated with the care, dignity, and respect that they deserve. Egregious abuse of defenseless seniors should not go unpunished, and we will fight for your loved one’s rights and compensation.
You do not need to worry about any upfront lawyer’s fees as we have the resources to fight on your behalf. Call Ben Crump Law, PLLC now for your free consultation with one of our team members at (800) 712-9119.
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