Pahrump Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
When your mother, father, grandparent, or other loved one lives in a nursing home, you expect them to be treated with respect and compassion by their caregivers, and hope your loved one receives the best care and attention possible. Unfortunately, some nursing home facilities fall short on the level of care and responsibilities to its residents.
Nursing home staff members are often underpaid, overworked, and inadequately trained. Placement of the care of residents in the hands of incompetent staff members results in neglect and the potential for abuse. Further, elderly residents may fall victim to theft or fraud by dishonest staff members.
Whether your family member has been neglected or physically, verbally, sexually, or financially abused, it is important to get justice by seeking the advice of a Pahrump nursing home abuse lawyer. Compassionate injury lawyers can help families stand up for their loved one and fight to hold the nursing home—as well as the staff members involved—accountable for its misconduct.
Signs of Nursing Home Abuse
A loved one may not speak up when they are being abused, whether it is because they are ashamed or embarrassed, because they are being threatened with violence, or simply because they are entirely unaware that they are being taken advantage of.
Therefore, it is important to pay attention to family members and keep an eye out for signs of nursing home abuse, such as:
- Sudden changes in behavior or mood
- Unexplained bruises or wounds
- Dehydration
- Refusal to eat
- Unsanitary living conditions
- Frequent medication errors
- Soiled bed linens
- Bed sores
- Changes in attitude
- Lastly, sudden financial problems
Types of Nursing Home Abuse Cases
A loved one does not have to be physically injured for it to be considered abuse. In fact, emotional abuse and financial exploitation are common types of nursing home abuse cases in Nevada. For example, caregivers may steal money, misuse credit cards, trick people into changing their wills, or even steal their victims’ identities. Additionally, nursing home staff members may engage in emotional abuse by yelling, ignoring, humiliating, or threatening people under their care.
Other types of abuse include physical abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect. Overmedication, unwanted sexual contact, battery, letting a resident leave the nursing home alone, and failing to assist residents with their personal hygiene and medication schedule are all considered forms of abuse.
If someone suspects that a loved one has been abused while living in a nursing home, they need to contact a Pahrump nursing home abuse attorney as soon as possible. Shedding light on these issues is important and it may prevent future abuse of their loved one as well as other residents.
Why Does Nursing Abuse Happen
Unfortunately, nursing home abuse is far too common in the United States. Some of the most common reasons for this type of abuse include:
- Unqualified staff
- Caregivers with a history of violence
- Low staff-to-resident ratio
- Lastly, inadequate security
Contacting a Pahrump Nursing Home Abuse Attorney
Nursing homes should equal safe environments for elderly people to get the day to day support they need.
Regulations exist to ensure:
- nursing homes have the right number of qualified employees,
- extensive staff training programs,
- and systems to ensure elderly residents receive their medication on a set schedule,
- Keep up with their personal hygiene.
- Lastly get the quality care and attention they deserve.
When a nursing home ignores those rules, it is time for you to take action.
A Pahrump nursing home abuse lawyer can protect your loved one’s rights and fight to get them the justice they deserve.