Lancaster Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect Lawyers

You need top legal representation when a loved one is the victim of abuse or neglect at the hands of a nursing home in Lancaster. It is unacceptable that some nursing homes would ignore, neglect, or abuse the very people they are paid to protect. Some abuse happens intentionally, while other episodes are the result of negligent care. If you experience any kind of neglect or abuse of your family member in any elder care facility, let a skilled Lancaster nursing home neglect and abuse attorney investigate your case.

Even if you spend months researching nursing homes in North Los Angeles County, you cannot predict what will happen once a loved one is admitted. While most people received adequate care in these facilities, they are frequently staffed with low-paid and marginally skilled caregivers. This leads to underperformance in some instances and high turnover rates. This can create dangerous environments for nursing home residents.

Nursing Home Abuse is More Common Than People Realize

It is unfortunate to say, but the problem of nursing home abuse and neglect continues to grow. Vulnerable individuals who live in a nursing home, rehabilitation facilities, and assisted living are at a much higher risk for abuse and neglect than those living at home. Studies indicate that over 40% of adults over the age of 65 will need to move into a nursing home or assisted living facility at some point in their lives which annually puts millions of people around the country at risk for neglect and abuse.

How to prevent neglect or abuse? When you place a family member in a nursing facility of any kind, you must make regular visits and verify they are being cared for properly. Look for potential signs of abuse, like bruises, weight loss, or a change in personality. Also look for expressions of pain, and the condition of their clothing and their room. The best way to monitor any changes in condition is to visit often.

There are numerous signs of abuse and neglect that you should familiarize yourself with, so you can more easily determine whether something has happened or not. In some situations, there may be understandable explanations for what you are seeing. However, in other cases, something more nefarious might be happening. If you ask the nursing home outright and you are not satisfied with the answer you get, do not stop there. Keep pushing for more information and then contact our Lancaster nursing home abuse and neglect attorneys for assistance.

You Need Top Legal Representation in Lancaster Nursing Home Abuse Cases

At the Southern California Nursing Home Law Group, we have over 40 years of combined experience of bringing legal actions against nursing facilities of all types for abuse and neglect. With as much income as most for-profit nursing homes are making, there is no excuse to underpay the staff members who are assigned to look after the patients. It is usually not the only time it has happened if there is an incident of neglect or abuse.

We have represented countless families to make sure that a nursing home will be held accountable if there are allegations of neglect or abuse. We also have a proven record of success in various California courts with these types of cases. If you believe a family member is the victim of abuse or neglect in a Los Angeles County nursing home, let our Lancaster nursing home neglect and abuse attorneys help you protect your rights.

Types of Abuse Found in Lancaster Nursing Homes

Over the years, our attorneys have pretty much seen it all when it comes to nursing home abuse and neglect in Southern California. Some of the more common types of abuse we see include:

• Neglect: Neglect is different from abuse. Neglect is usually not intentional, and occurs because of ongoing negligence that causes harm. Some examples of neglect are failing to adequately nourish a resident, failing to promptly respond to call buttons, failing to turn in bed to prevent sores, failing to assist to the toilet when needed or failing to change diapers when needed.
• Physical Abuse: This can include punching, hitting, biting, kicking, scratching, shoving, overuse of restraints, etc. Intentional withholding of things like medical treatment or food can also be a form of physical abuse.
• Emotional Abuse: Repeated episodes of shaming, yelling, humiliating, threatening, or demeaning a patient would fall under emotional or psychological abuse.
• Sexual Abuse: Sexual abuse is most common with patients who are unable to express their own desires. Abuse involves unwanted sexual attention, like touching without consent. Episodes of sexual abuse can include other patients or visitors. It is not a problem exclusive to staff members only.

Contact Our Lancaster Elder Neglect and Abuse Lawyers

If you need assistance with a nursing home neglect claim in Lancaster, contact our attorneys at the Southern California Nursing Home Law Group today to schedule a free initial consultation. We look forward to helping your family pursue the justice you deserve.

---