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The population of elderly individuals increases each year in the United States, and many families turn to nursing homes when they don’t have the resources to attend to their loved ones. When you move your relative into an assisted living facility, you expect the staff to provide them with professional and compassionate care. Unfortunately, there are over a million reports of elder abuse in nursing homes on an annual basis.
If you suspect that your loved one is experiencing mistreatment or neglect in their living facility, call a Clear Lake nursing home abuse lawyer right away. Our dedicated attorneys can help you protect your relative and seek justice.
What Are the Different Types of Nursing Home Abuse?
It is often hard to recognize elder abuse because many of the individuals in nursing homes may have medical conditions that prevent them from advocating for themselves. As a family member, there are many forms of abuse that you should look out for. Nursing home residents may face neglect as well as physical, emotional, financial, and sexual abuse.
Neglect in Assisted Living Facilities
Neglect often occurs when a nursing home is understaffed, and the workers do not have time to adequately care for each resident. One common sign of neglect is bedsores. These sores may appear on the skin if the nursing home staff does not regularly shift the individual in their bed.
Dehydration and malnutrition are also common signs of neglect. Staff members should ensure that each resident is getting the fluids, vitamins, and nutrients they need. If the workers consistently forget to send food to your relative’s room or fail to check on your loved one to make sure they ate, you could take legal action.
Physical Abuse
Physical abuse is often easier to notice. If your loved one has bone fractures or large bruises, it may be a sign that the staff is intentionally harming your relative. These injuries could also result from severe falls.
Verbal and Emotional Abuse
Emotional abuse refers to the way nursing home staff communicates with the resident. Forms of emotional abuse include yelling, intimidation, verbal threats, and mockery.
Financial Exploitation
Financial abuse often involves staff members asking for the resident’s personal financial information or forging signatures on checks. Alternatively, they may manipulate the resident into giving them money or making financial decisions in their favor.
Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse includes any inappropriate acts, such as lewd comments and non-consensual sexual contact. To stop ongoing abuse, it is critical to inform local law enforcement and remove your loved one from the nursing home immediately. Then, a Clear Lake attorney familiar with elder abuse claims can help you and your loved one seek compensation.
Negotiating a Settlement with a Nursing Home
The first step of pursuing settlement from a nursing home is hiring an attorney to conduct a comprehensive investigation of the issue. Next, your legal counsel will help you draft a demand letter to send to the at-fault party. This document will include evidence of the abuse that led to your loved one’s injuries or death.
The demand letter will assert that the abuse should cease immediately and may include a requested settlement amount. The opposing party will likely send a counteroffer in return, and a skilled lawyer can help you negotiate for the compensation your relative deserves.
A Clear Lake Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Can Help
Taking advantage of nursing home residents is clearly wrong, but it is especially malicious considering the unequal power dynamic between staff members and residents. If you believe that the staff at an assisted living facility neglected or abused your loved one, you should seek legal assistance as soon as possible.
A Clear Lake nursing home abuse lawyer at Haines Law can help you determine the best path forward for your family. Call us today to learn more about your legal options.