Taking care of yourself can be difficult when you get older. A person’s physical and mental health play a significant role in whether they can sustain a viable lifestyle. When our family members reach a point where they need long-term assistance, the right nursing homes offer thorough treatment and a welcoming community for the elderly. We trust the facilities and their staffs to take care of our loved ones as if they were their own. Unfortunately, however, not all nursing homes live up to their requirements, and nursing home abuse and neglect can result in severe harm to your loved one.
In a 2020 report by the World Health Organization (WHO), about 12% of nursing home staff reported neglecting residents’ needs and behaving inappropriately. Neglect and abuse are on the rise due to understaffing from an growing resource shortage. To protect your loved one and seek compensation for the neglect or abuse they suffer, contact an experienced nursing home abuse attorney at Lever & Ecker, PLLC.
Staff members who do not perform the required and necessary care for patients living within the facility may commit nursing home abuse or neglect. For elderly individuals to live a healthy and happy lifestyle within the nursing home, nurses and staff must comply with the applicable care requirements.
Some of the various ways an individual can commit nursing home abuse and neglect include:
When elderly individuals suffer abuse or neglect within a long-term care facility, they can suffer severe injuries and illnesses. You have the right to hold the responsible party accountable for their actions.
Many residents of nursing homes find it challenging to speak up about the abuse or neglect. Some individuals may also be unable to speak or protect themselves from these inappropriate and horrible behaviors—which is why loved ones need to observe any of the following behaviors for clues that can indicate possible abuse:
The injuries resulting from nursing home abuse and neglect can be severe. If the damage is left untreated, the injuries could cause life-threatening harm. Contact a nursing home abuse lawyer as soon as possible so that you can protect your loved one from further abuse.
While you might not be able to stay by your loved one’s side, there are plenty of ways to reduce the likelihood of your family member suffering from nursing home abuse. The following are a few steps to take to keep your loved one safe:
When you take the necessary precautions to keep your family member safe, you reduce the likelihood of your loved one suffering severe harm due to abuse and neglect. However, there are some cases where individuals still experience nursing home abuse. If you require legal representation, contact our team at Lever & Ecker, PLLC as soon as possible.
When our loved one is in a long-term care facility, we expect them to enjoy a safe, healthy, and engaging environment. Finding out that they are suffering from a lack of care, which can lead to severe injuries and illnesses, is shocking and unacceptable. The following are steps to take when someone you love is suffering from abuse or neglect within a nursing home:
Trying to fight for your loved one’s rights on your own is dangerous and could lead to you not receiving the full amount of compensation you deserve. The sooner you can contact an experienced nursing home abuse attorney, the more time they have to gather documents and pieces of evidence to help your case.
The elderly community suffered many challenges in the past few years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With the lack of resources and understaffing issues, there is an increasing risk of nursing home abuse and neglect. If your loved one suffers from such misconduct within a nursing home, contact our Lever & Ecker, PLLC nursing home abuse and neglect lawyers. Our award-winning attorneys have over 65 years of experience protecting and fighting for our clients’ rights. We understand the financial, physical, and emotional challenges a nursing home abuse case can cause. However, our guidance and legal representation can give you the confidence and resources to have the best possible outcome.
To learn more about our services and schedule a free consultation, call us at (914) 288-9191 or (718) 933-3632 and fill out our contact form.