Santa Clarita Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Lawyers

When your family is faced with the need to find a suitable nursing home for a loved one, it is typically one of the hardest decisions you will make. There are hundreds of nursing homes in Los Angeles County alone. How do you choose the right one, and what if your family member sustains harm while there?

Abuse and neglect is a severe problem in nursing homes and assisted living facilities all around the country. If you believe your loved one has suffered harm at the hands of nursing home staff, it is imperative that you contact a skilled Santa Clarita nursing home abuse and neglect attorney right away.

At the Southern California Nursing Home Law Group, our attorneys specialize in cases involving suspected abuse and neglect in Los Angeles County, including those facilities in Santa Clarita. Given the serious nature of these cases, you want a law firm that is among the most experienced in the industry, and fully understands the Elder Abuse and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act. Our team of attorneys has handled hundreds of cases and are here to help with your Santa Clarita elder neglect cases.

Identifying potential signs of abuse and/or neglect is important. You know your family member and are the ones seeing them regularly. Keep notes and monitor how your family member is doing from visit to visit. Has their health changed? Have they suddenly become more withdrawn? Does he or she appear to be in pain? Is the room always dirty? Ask yourself the critical questions, familiarize yourself with the potential signs, and be sure to contact an attorney when you believe something may be going on.

Several different types of abuse can take place in a nursing home. These include physical abuse, emotional abuse, and sexual abuse. Here is a closer look at each type of abuse:

• Physical Abuse: Signs of physical abuse can include unexplained bruises, lacerations, and wounds. Look for marks around the wrists that might indicate binding and restraints. If your family member sustained a broken bone, ask questions. If you do not like the answers, it is time to contact an attorney.
• Emotional Abuse: Emotional abuse can involve repetitive demeaning comments, harassment, threats, and more.
• Sexual Abuse: Look for unexplained wounds around the genital area or a sudden positive test for STDs or STIs. In the cases of younger patients who may be immobile or unconscious, there is a risk of a staff member impregnating the patient during sexual abuse and rape.

Non-physical signs that might point to nursing home abuse include sudden depression, severe mood changes, anxiety, fear, being withdrawn, etc. If you see a notable difference in your family member’s attitude and demeanor, start digging deeper. These may be signs that point to abuse.

Neglect is different from abuse, but it often more harmful to the resident. Neglect happens when the nursing home is not giving the proper care and attention to its residents. This could include failing to give required medications, not providing them with sufficient food and water, not helping with hygiene, or not administering necessary medical treatment. Frequently signs of neglect include:

• Bedsores / pressure ulcers
• Dehydration
• Emotionally upset or agitated, extremely withdrawn and non-communicative.
• Falls, fractures or head injuries.
• Infections
• Bed injuries/asphyxiation
• Instances of wandering/elopement
• Malnutrition

Neglect crosses the line into abuse when the acts are intentional. Neglect is forgetting to give a patient the necessary doses of medication. Abuse is intentionally not giving a patient their meals as some type of punishment. Bedsores and other wounds could point to either neglect or abuse. If the nursing home staff is not regularly moving an immobile patient or cleaning them regularly, they can develop bedsores, urinary tract infections, and more.

When monitoring the care your family member is receiving, take note of the room conditions. Is the trash emptied regularly? Is there old food sitting around for days? Are the sheets and towels cleaned? Does your loved one reek of urine or feces? These can all point to nursing home neglect, as well.

Our entire legal practice is based around stopping abuse and neglect of nursing home and assisted living patients. We want to help you hold these nursing homes accountable. If you have questions or believe your family member might be a victim of abuse, do not wait to speak with our Santa Clarita nursing home abuse and neglect attorneys. Contact the Southern California Nursing Home Law Group today at (866) 607-1325 or use our online contact form to schedule an initial consultation.