Bakersfield Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect Lawyers

According to Bakersfield Eyewitness News, there were 4,000 cases of elder abuse within Kern County in 2017. The number becomes even more staggering when you consider how many incidents of elder abuse and neglect go unreported. If you have a loved one living out the sunset years of their life in Bakersfield and are concerned they may not be getting adequate care from their skilled nursing or assisted living facility, it is critical that you speak up and demand an explanation. The Bakersfield nursing home abuse and neglect lawyers at the Southern California Nursing Home Law Group can help you hold the nursing home accountable and ensure your loved one is well taken care of in the future.

If a nursing facility engages in an illegal act such as abuse, they can be charged in a criminal court. Sometimes the outcome of these cases requires that the nursing facility pay restitution to those who were injured. However, it is also possible to file a civil lawsuit. Civil lawsuits are also an option if the nursing home did not engage in an illegal act but was simply negligent in their duties and caused injury or death. Filing a civil lawsuit can result in a settlement or verdict award, which can help cover costs such as:

• Medical treatment for any abuse or neglect;
• Mental health treatment;
• Moving nursing home facilities; and
• Pain and suffering.

Filing a civil lawsuit also prevents others in the nursing facility from receiving the same abusive or negligent treatment. If your loved one passed away and you believe that that cause of death was mistreatment, you can file a wrongful death suit.

According to the National Center on Elder Abuse, a senior who experiences even a modest amount of abuse is at a 300 percent higher risk of death than their peers. A person can be abused physically, emotionally, or sexually. Examples include:

• Hitting, slapping, or punching a senior;
• Using restraints unnecessarily;
• Yelling at, belittling, or mocking the senior;
• Sexual intercourse or making the senior watch sexual acts;
• Withholding basic needs such as food, water, blankets, clean sheets or other necessities; and
• More.

Neglect is when the nursing home fails to attend to their residents. While neglect can be intentional, more often it is unintentional because the nursing facility is short on staff or does not have proper protocols in place to care for all the residents. Either way, a lawsuit should be filed. Examples of neglect include:

• Failing to provide meals and water on time;
• Not giving the senior their medication;
• Not moving a bedridden or wheelchair bound resident, which can lead to bed sores;
• Misdiagnosing health concerns or failing to get the senior proper medical attention at a hospital;
• Not attending to the senior’s personal hygiene;
• Failing to help a nursing home patient maneuver, which could lead to unnecessary falls; and
• More.

Chances are, you will not actively see nursing home abuse and will have to look for other signs. You may notice welts or lacerations that have no explanation. A senior may simply become depressed or withdrawn, which are signs of psychological abuse. If you are at all concerned, it is worth investigating the care your loved one is receiving further. Depending on the situation, neglect may actually be easier to identify. For instance, you may notice the room smells unclean or your loved one is complaining about not receiving their medication. You may first see small clues, such as your loved one suddenly seems to have an unkempt appearance, before you notice the big picture of neglect going on in the nursing care facility.

There are a growing number of seniors in the population, and while we hope everyone gets the best care possible as they age, we know from statistics that senior abuse and neglect are also on the rise. If you have the slightest concern that your loved one is being mistreated at their nursing facility, you should take action immediately. It could prevent them and others within the home from sustaining any further trauma, be it physical or psychological. A qualified attorney can guide you through what steps to take to investigate further and help you file a lawsuit, should that be necessary. Call 866-607-1325 now to schedule a no-cost consultation with the Bakersfield nursing home abuse and neglect lawyers at the Southern California Nursing Home Law Group.