Los Angeles
Nursing Home Abuse Attorney
Do You Need a Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer?
Most people place their vulnerable loved ones in nursing homes in the hope they will receive the adequate care they need to stay safe and healthy. However, this is not always the case in several nursing homes.
Inspectors from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services discovered serious insufficiencies and violations in 26% of California’s elder care facilities.
What is even worse is that most people in nursing homes, such as the elderly and persons with disabilities, may not be in a position to defend themselves when faced with such a situation.
Thus, if you suspect your loved one or someone you know staying in a nursing home has been the victim of abuse. We recommend you contact a Nursing Home Attorney promptly to ensure your loved one or the individual in question is well protected from future abuse.
What Counts as Nursing Home Abuse?
Nursing home abuse refers to intentional or negligent actions from caregivers, visitors, or other residents in a nursing home that can inflict physical pain or mental pain and suffering, on an elderly or dependent person. Unfortunately, most nursing home abuses usually go unreported since the victims are either afraid or suffer from a condition impairing their cognitive abilities leading them to stay quiet.
Here are some of the most common forms of nursing home abuse in California:
Physical Abuse – This type of nursing home abuse can encompass any action against a nursing home resident that results in bodily injuries such as hitting, broken bones, unexplainable falls, or burns. It can also include acts like the unnecessary use of physical restraints.
Sexual Abuse – This happens when a nursing home resident experiences unwanted sexual acts or exploitation.
Financial Exploitation – Since most individuals in a nursing home are defenseless, an individual can take advantage of their position and knowledge of a nursing home resident to exploit the resident’s financial assets for their personal gain.
Emotional Abuse – This type of abuse involves subjecting a nursing home inhabitant to actions that can cause emotional trauma. It can include behavior such as insulting, humiliating, or gas lighting a resident.
Negligence – While an indirect form of abuse, negligence can still be just as damaging as other forms of nursing home abuse. It usually occurs when an inhabitant of a nursing home is improperly cared for, risking their health and safety. Negligence is especially common in understaffed nursing homes.
What Are The Signs Of Nursing Home Abuse?
The most unfortunate thing about nursing home abuse cases is that most of them go unreported since the victims of this type of abuse may not be in the best position to report this type of crime themselves. Therefore family members, friends, and even nursing home staff must keep a keen eye on the inhabitants of nursing homes to watch out for anything that may be amiss. Some of the most frequent signs to look for that may indicate possible nursing home abuse:
- Abrupt and unexplained weight loss
- Bedsores
- Sudden withdrawn before
- Changes in personal hygiene
- Bruising, scratches, or fractures
- Detectable signs of dehydration
- Uncomfortable being left alone with certain staff members
- Malnutrition
- The visible presence of environmental hazards in the nursing home like slippery floors or malfunctioning medical equipment
You should note that while these signs do not offer a 100 percent guarantee that an inhabitant is suffering from abuse. You should get to the bottom of why these symptoms are occurring and ensure your loved one is not a victim of abuse.
What Should You Do If You Notice Nursing Home Abuse?
Contact a nursing home abuse lawyer. Any victim of this type of abuse has the right to file a civil lawsuit and receive compensation for the damages and harm incurred. The California Elder Abuse and Dependent Adult Abuse Civil Protection Act protects elderly and dependent persons in nursing homes from going through exploitation and abuse.
Thus, if you feel your loved one has suffered some form of abuse or neglect, you want to ensure they are adequately compensated for the damages and harm they have incurred and possibly stop another nursing home resident from going through a similar situation in the future.
Contact An Experienced California Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Today!
Our attorneys are here for you.
Need an Attorney? CALL NOW: 310-274-6529
Seppi Esfandi is an Expert Attorney who has over 21 years of practice defending a variety of cases.