Many elderly individuals live in nursing homes, which offer an abundance of services and support. With round-the-clock care provided by a diverse team of caregivers and staff, they are great facilities for individuals who need personalized assistance and are unable to live on their own. Sadly, incidents of abuse and neglect have been reported in some nursing homes. If you or a loved one have experienced abuse or neglect in a nursing home, you are within your right to seek legal action. Contact a lawyer who has had many years of experience successfully advocating for the rights of nursing home abuse victims.
How Negligence is Defined Under the Law
An experienced and trusted lawyer who specializes in nursing home abuse and neglect, such as one from Davis & Brusca, can explain to you the most common warning signs in a nursing home abuse or neglect case. Negligence is defined as the failure to provide a reasonable standard level of care that someone else would provide in similar circumstances. In addition to direct actions and behaviors, this includes the absence of actions and behaviors that are an essential part of care, such as rendering aid to a patient in distress.
What are physical signs of abuse?
In a nursing home abuse or neglect case, physical signs are the most recognizable. Though some physical signs can be easily spotted, they can occur in places on the body that are not easily seen. Bedsores or pressure sores are examples of wounds that are not noticeable since they can occur on the lower back or hips. They develop when a patient’s position in their bed is not periodically adjusted. Some of the most common physical signs that abuse or neglect may be occurring include:
- Scars
- Wounds
- Bruises
- Bedsores
- Malnutrition
- Dehydration
- Weight loss
What are non-physical signs of abuse?
Behavioral or emotional signs are less subtle and more difficult to notice in nursing home abuse cases. A victim may change their behavior or become anxious at the mention of the abuser’s name or when the abuser is in close proximity to them. Non-physical signs of abuse include the following:
- Fear or anxiety when the abuser is nearby
- Uncharacteristic changes to an estate
- Sudden or unusual money transfers
- Psychological manipulation
- Adding the abuser’s name to their will
Legal Assistance is Available
Explore your legal options if you have been a victim of abuse and neglect in a nursing home. Schedule a consultation with a top nursing home abuse lawyer today.