Los Angeles Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Attorney
Experienced Los Angeles Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Attorney to Protect Your Loved Ones
Nursing home abuse is a serious concern, involving facilities all around the globe. One of the most common forms of nursing home abuse is neglect, which occurs when someone fails to receive the proper care that is needed.
Many older people need additional care, and nursing homes are where this assistance is typically sought. No one wants to place their family member in a facility where they will be neglected or abused. There are different types of abuse and neglect, and they can manifest in different ways:
- Physical
- Emotional
- Medical
Below you’ll find helpful information on nursing home neglect and abuse and what signs you need to look out for. If you suspect that a loved one has been abused or neglected, you need to speak with an experienced and compassionate Los Angeles nursing home neglect and abuse attorney right away. There is no charge or obligation to let us review your case.
Different Types of Nursing Home Neglect
It’s important to identify the different types of neglect to watch out for:
- Neglect of Basic Needs: When a nursing home doesn’t provide the patient with a safe environment or there is a lack of food and water, it’s considered neglect of basic needs.
- Medical Neglect: If the patient doesn’t receive adequate and preventative medical treatment, whether for pre-existing health problems like diabetes or new concerns like bed sores and infections.
- Personal Hygiene Neglect: Some patients need assistance with basic daily living needs like brushing their teeth, bathing, laundry, etc., and a failure to assist them is considered neglect of personal hygiene.
- Emotional or Social Neglect: Neglect can take emotional and mental forms as well. If a resident is completely ignored or left alone on a regular basis, it can be deemed neglect.
Potential Nursing Home Neglect Warning Signs
Warning signs of neglect may be subtle, so it can be hard to quickly identify something is amiss. Depending on the type of neglect, there may not be physical warning signs either, making it even more difficult to address.
Here are some possible warning signs of nursing home neglect:
- Sudden weight loss, especially in patients who require assistance with feeding
- Bed sores or pressure sores that result from a lack of regular turning and cleaning
- Patient become suddenly withdrawn
- Changes in physical appearance or hygiene habits
- Malnutrition or dehydration
- No friendly interaction with staff and/or other patients
- Environmental hazards like torn carpets, broken furniture, etc.
- Patient has suffered one or more falls resulting in different types of injuries
What Constitutes Nursing Home Abuse?
As mentioned previously, neglect is one type of nursing home abuse. Other types of abuse are:
- Physical Abuse: Physical abuse can manifest itself in many different ways, outside of just physical contact and battery. Use of physical restraints, force-feeding, and overmedication are just a few of the other things that can encompass physical abuse.
- Sexual Abuse: If a patient is tricked or forced into sexual contact or they do not have capacity to consent, the nursing home can be held liable for any such conduct that occurs. Sexual abuse can happen with a staff member, another patient, or third-party visitors to the facility. The nursing home has a duty to keep patients safe, so they can be held liable even in the case of third-party sexual abuse.
- Emotional or Mental Abuse: Making threats, yelling at a patient, or making sarcastic remarks can be mental or emotional abuse. If an employee tries to use emotional manipulation against a resident for their own personal gain, it is also considered emotional abuse.
- Financial Abuse: If there are unexplained ATM withdrawals, missing property or money, or other signs of financial exploitation, the nursing home could be liable. Watch for unscrupulous people who try to get the resident to sign a power of attorney, change their will, add a name to credit cards or bank accounts, etc.
Signs of Nursing Home Abuse
Nursing home abuse warning signs include the following:
- Bruises, welts, or visible scars
- Unexplained broken bones or sprains
- Broken eyeglasses
- Signs restraints were used
- Unusual behavior in the patient that can almost resemble dementia
- STDs or genital infections
- Vaginal or anal bleeding
- Bruising around breasts or genitals
When is a Nursing Home Liable for Neglect and Abuse?
Nursing homes have a duty to keep their patients safe. If someone breaches that duty, the nursing home can be held liable for any subsequent injuries and damages. The following are examples of the variety of issues that can contribute to neglect and abuse:
- Understaffing: When a nursing home is understaffed, the ratio of staff to patients will suffer and the level of care will suffer.
- Negligent Hiring: Hiring unqualified personnel or people who lied on their application can constitute negligent hiring. Nursing homes need to verify academic and professional credentials through background checks or they could face serious consequences for carelessly hiring someone who lied on their application.
- Medication Errors: If meds are withheld, the wrong dosage prescribed, or the wrong medication administered, the nursing home can be liable if the patient suffered any ill effects.
- Lack of Training: If nursing home staff is not given proper training and patients are neglected or abused, the nursing home can be held liable.
- Third-Party Claims: If a resident is abused by someone else within the nursing home, the facility can still be held liable. The home has a duty to provide residents with a safe environment.
Contact a Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse Lawyer in Los Angeles
If you suspect that a loved one has been neglected or abused by a nursing home, you need a skilled, understanding, and compassionate attorney on your side. At the Dolan Law Firm, we can help uncover abuse and neglect in nursing homes and ensure the facility is held liable so no other families suffer the same physical and emotional trauma. Contact us online and let us help you and your family through this difficult time.
