Hesperia Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect Lawyers

Nursing home abuse and neglect is a growing problem here in Hesperia. While the family members of nursing home patients like to believe that their loved one is receiving high quality care from compassionate nurses and staff, the truth is that nursing home neglect and abuse happens all the time. With 20 nursing homes servicing Hesperia, according to Senior Advice, there are bound to be many local incidents of neglect and abuse. If your loved one has displayed any signs of abuse or neglect, or has complained or made comments about mistreatment, you need to take it seriously and contact an experienced Hesperia nursing home abuse and neglect attorney at the Southern California Nursing Home Law Group.

Nursing Home Abuse vs Neglect

Abuse occurs when a nursing home resident is the victim of a caregiver’s intentional violence, cruelty, insults, or unnecessary physical contact or punishment. Neglect, on the other hand, is unintentional. However, an unintentional injury is not the same thing as an accidental injury. One key aspect of an accident is that they happen “unexpectedly.” As such, an accident, technically, is not preventable because it is not foreseeable. Neglect is preventable, and negligence that leads to a nursing home patient’s injury or death should be investigated by an attorney.

Examples of Nursing Home Abuse

• Hitting;
• Pushing;
• Pinching;
• Slapping;
• Sexual abuse, including groping, touching, sexual intercourse, pornography, etc.;
• Yelling;
• Belittling, teasing, or taunting;
• Coercion or intimidation;
• Psychological torture or punishment, such as forcing the patient to stay in their room or unnecessarily restraining them in bed; and
• More.

Examples of Nursing Home Neglect

• Administering the wrong type of medication or wrong dose of medication;
• Failing to help a resident in or out of bed, which results in a fall injury;
• Failing to clean or bathe the patient regularly;
• Not providing enough hydration to the resident, resulting in dehydration;
• Failing to provide adequate security measures, enabling residents with dementia to wander outside and hurt themselves; and
• Failure to implement COVID-19 safety measures, such as testing, sanitation, and social distancing.

Signs and Symptoms of Abuse

• Bruise marks on the body;
• Unexplained injuries or injuries that your loved one does not want to talk about;
• Bruises or marks on the wrists or ankles where restraints were used;
• Depression, anxiety, or symptoms of PTSD;
• Injuries to the sex organs, including signs of rape; and
• More

Signs of Nursing Home Neglect

• Sudden weight gain or weight loss;
• Dehydration;
• Fall injuries such as fractured hip, broken wrist; severe bruising, or torn ligaments;
• Bedsores;
• Unclean linens, clothing, or poor personal hygiene;
• Rapid and unexplained decline in physical or mental health;
• Worsening symptoms of dementia; and
• More.

An Aging Population Means Elder Abuse Cases Will Increase

The median age of Californians is currently 35 years old. By 2050, the median age will increase to 41 years of age, according to CA50million.gov. Moreover, the population of residents over the age of 85 will essentially triple; by 2050, 6.3% of Californians will be over 85, over 4% will be 80 to 84, 4.5% will be 75 to 79, and 5% will be 70 to 74. In total, roughly one out of five Californians will be at the age where relying on long term care is often essential. Already, nursing homes are facing staffing shortages. They are hiring unqualified and poorly trained staff members in order to cut corners and save on costs. This type of corner cutting is bound to increase as the years go on and a greater percentage of Californians rely on nursing homes and long term care, particularly if loved ones of the abused and neglected fail to speak up today to enact change for the future.

What You can do to Stop the Abuse and Neglect

By working with an attorney, you can file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit with the nursing home. This will not only provide your loved one with additional finances but will help to eliminate the chances of another victim being abused by that caretaker or facility. Just as importantly, a lawsuit can provide some sense of justice for your loved one and their family.

Nursing Home Lawyers Servicing Hesperia

A nursing home abuse or neglect lawsuit can include damages for pain and suffering, medical expenses, loss of joy of life, emotional distress, and more. To seek justice for your abused or neglected loved one, call the Hesperia nursing home abuse and neglect lawyers at the Southern California Nursing Home Law Group. Call us today to schedule a no-cost consultation at (866) 607-1325.

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