Thousand Oaks Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect Lawyers

Nursing home abuse and neglect results in serious injury and death among many seniors in California and throughout the country each year. Based on data from the National Council on Aging (NCOA), about one out of 10 seniors aged 60 and older will experience some form of elder abuse in any given year, and there is a strong likelihood that the actual number is significantly higher due to underreporting. Some estimates suggest that only about one out of every 14 cases of elder abuse gets reported while many other seniors suffer in silence. To put that figure another way, it is possible that nearly 93% of all nursing home and assisted living abuse and neglect claims go unreported each year. There are many reasons that elder abuse cases are not reported, from fears that elderly residents have when it comes to reporting a staff member to issues of capacity where a nursing home resident with dementia cannot properly report harm.

With more than two decades of experience serving older adults and their families in Southern California, the dedicated Thousand Oaks nursing home abuse and neglect lawyers at the Southern California Nursing Home Law Group can assist with your case.

Nursing home abuse and neglect in Thousand Oaks can take many different forms, and it is essential to keep in mind that the various forms of elder abuse can have many different signs and symptoms. The following are some of the most common forms of abuse that occur at Thousand Oaks nursing homes and assisted-living facilities:

• Physical abuse, which involves any type of intentional physical harm or pain inflicted on a senior;
• Psychological abuse or emotional abuse, which means any type of behavior or language designed to inflict emotional harm on a senior, such as verbal threats, harassment, or putting a senior in an embarrassing situation;
• Sexual abuse, which involves any type of unwanted sexual touching as well as any sexual touching involving an older adult who lacks the capacity to give consent due to a mental incapacitation from Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, or another illness; and
• Neglect, which is not intentional, but involves any type of failure to provide care and attention that a resident needs, resuliting in an elderly person’s injury or illness.

Injuries and illnesses from neglect frequently occur when a nursing home or assisted-living facility in the Thousand Oaks, CA area is understaffed. When a facility does not have sufficient staff members to provide care to residents, a senior at the facility can slip and fall without adequate monitoring or may develop bedsores.

Thousand Oaks has 17 nursing homes, and there are a number of other skilled nursing facilities and residential care facilities for the elderly (RCFEs) nearby that serve residents of the Thousand Oaks area. Given that there are many different types of elder abuse and neglect that may occur at these facilities, it is important to remember that you should be concerned about a wide variety of signs and symptoms that could signal abuse or neglect. The following are common symptoms of the different types of nursing home abuse and neglect described above:

• Malnutrition and dehydration
• Bedsores (aka decubitus ulcers and pressure sores);
• Unexplained bruises or contusions;
• Fractures, often after a preventable fall;
• Bed rail injuries;
• Cuts;
• Welts;
• Bleeding;
• Torn clothing;
• Unexplained weight loss;
• Dehydration;
• Unusual depression;
• Unexplained withdrawal from regular activities;
• Sudden changes in behavior;
• Unattended medical needs; and
• Poor hygiene.

It can be difficult to know with certainty whether you have a valid nursing home abuse or neglect claim. When you have questions, you should get in touch with one of our Thousand Oaks nursing home abuse attorneys who can evaluate your claim and help you to seek compensation.

If you have questions or concerns about yourself or an elderly loved one, you should know that the Thousand Oaks nursing home abuse and neglect attorneys at our firm are here to help. We have decades of experience representing seniors and their families in Southern California, and we know how important it is to hold nursing homes and assisted-living facilities accountable for their wrongdoing. At the Southern California Nursing Home law Group, we have been representing seniors and their families for more than 20 years, and we would be pleased to speak with you today about your case. To learn more about scheduling a free consultation, contact us online or call our office at (866) 607-1325.