Victorville Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect Lawyers

According to American Senior Communities, over a million seniors live in some type of senior living community, and that number is expected to double in the next 10 years because the Baby Boomer generation is aging. For most seniors, moving into an assisted living facility or a nursing home is a difficult but positive choice to make. They can receive assistance with daily tasks such as preparing meals, bathing, and cleaning while also being in an environment with more social interactions. However, not all staff and facilities provide the outstanding care you would expect your loved one to receive. Nursing home abuse and neglect are on the rise and it is critical that you pay attention for any signs of mistreatment. If you do suspect your loved one is being mistreated, the experienced Victorville nursing home neglect attorneys at the Southern California Nursing Home Law Group can guide you through what actions to take next.

If your loved one has been abused, chances are the abuser will face criminal charges for their actions. However, you will also want to file a personal injury claim in the civil courts. If your loved one died as a result of the mistreatment, you can file a wrongful death lawsuit, which is also with the civil courts. By filing a personal injury claim or wrongful death suit for harm suffered in a nursing facility you can receive compensation for the damages sustained. This will help your loved one financially cover costs to recover from the mistreatment such as:

• Medical appointments and surgeries;
• Therapy to emotionally recover;
• The cost to move to a different senior facility;
• Pain and suffering; and
• Funeral costs and loss of consortium for a family member who died from abuse or neglect.

Nursing home abuse can take many forms, but the common aspects of it are that the abuse is targeting a senior resident who is 65 years or older, that person is being intentionally mistreated, and that mistreatment has caused physical or emotional trauma for the senior. Residents in a nursing home are particularly vulnerable to abuse because they are often socially isolated from family, are physically weaker as they age, and could be suffering from cognitive impairments such as dementia. Examples of abuse include:

• Non-consensual sexual contact of any kind with residents;
• Unnecessary use of physical or chemical restraints. As Seniorsmatters.com mentions, Medicare, the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, and California all have strict regulations for the use of restraints for nursing home patients.
• Intimidating, threatening, yelling, or swearing at a resident;
• Teasing, insulting, or embarrassing a resident;
• Pinching, burning, biting, slapping, punching or otherwise physically injuring a senior; and
• More.

Neglect deprives seniors living in a nursing home of the care they require. Some ways seniors are neglected include failure to provide them with the following:

• Food and water;
• Clean clothing;
• Clean bedsheets;
• Clean room;
• Assistance with personal hygiene;
• Assistance moving in bed or in a wheelchair in order to prevent pressure points;
• Social interactions;
• Help taking the right medications and the correct doses at the appropriate time of day; and
• More.

Nursing home or assisted living neglect is not always easy to spot. You may notice small differences or oddities when visiting or even while talking on the phone with your loved one. Pay close attention to those details and ask questions to get a better picture of the care they are receiving. Some concerns you may notice initially include:

• Broken bones or a fall that cannot be explained;
• Welts, bruises, or lacerations;
• Dehydration;
• Malnourishment;
• A decline in the resident’s overall appearance or hygiene;
• An unsanitary, uncleaned room;
• Soiled bed sheets;
• Frequent illnesses;
• A lack of upkeep for their mobility devices such as canes, wheelchairs, or even shoes; and
• More.

Seniors are an at-risk population when it comes to mistreatment. In addition to being physically weaker than those who care for them, elders may be too scared to voice their fears of abuse because they rely on the abuser to provide needed care. Uncovering the truth can mean questioning your loved one, as well as asking other residents in the nursing home and staff to provide more information. However, this is not something you have to undertake on your own. If your loved one is living in the vicinity of Victorville, the elder abuse and neglect lawyers at Southern California Nursing Home Law Group can help. Contact us to schedule a no-cost consultation at (866) 607-1325.