The care of an elderly loved one can be difficult, especially if the elder has physical or mental disabilities. Due to the difficulty and full-time care required, many families will choose to entrust the care of their loved one to a qualified medical facility. Unfortunate, countless of these nursing homes have been found to abuse the very people they have been entrusted (and paid for) to care.
Elderly people have unfortunately been an easy target for many careless nursing home specialists. Their declining emotional, mental, and physical state can lead to their victimization. Some of the worst cases involve sexual harassment, malnutrition, verbal and physical abuse, or the theft of a victim’s personal items.
If you have reason to believe that someone you love is being abused in the facility that is responsible for his or her care, you or the elder in question may have the opportunity to file a claim against the medical facility. Elder abuse is a widespread immoral act that requires vigorous legal representation on the victim’s side. Speak to a qualified attorney who has experience in the legal field of elder abuse. An experienced attorney can guide you through the process of filing for a claim as well as help you to strategize for a strong case.
Elder Abuse: Detecting the Signs
As previously mentioned, there are many forms of elder abuse that can transpire in a nursing home. The following lists highlights some of the most common signs that can signal that a person is being abused in the facility that is supposed to care for him or her:
- Unexplained bodily burns such as cigarette burns
- Pressure sores and other skin ulcers that do not heal
- Bedsores
- Malnutrition or dehydration
- An error in the victim’s prescribed medication
- Victim’s septic shock
- An unsupervised elder who requires full-time care
- Infections
- Weight loss
There are unfortunately many signs that could determine if a person is being abused in a nursing home. If the facility has no logical reason behind the elder’s injuries and you have reason to believe that the person is being abused, consult with a qualified attorney who can determine if you have a valid claim. With the support of a qualified attorney the elder can obtain the restitution necessary to find better hospice or cover the costs of any related medical injuries.
Defending an Elder’s Rights
Under the State of California Welfare and Institutions Code, the State of California has outlined legal protections as well as legal resolutions for those who have experienced mistreatment in accordance to the Elder Abuse and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act. Unfortunately when it comes to elder abuse, presenting sufficient evidence about the abuse can be difficult. Presenting a strong legal case against the nursing home or the company who owns the facility can be difficult without the help of an experienced attorney. A specialized attorney will have an understanding of what is needed to present the best claim forward.
Attorney Richard Rohde is highly qualified in elderly abuse cases. He has assisted many victims and their families receive restitution for the grievances caused by the negligent nursing home. In elder abuse claims, as is the case with all medical malpractice claims, time is of the essence: consult with an experienced attorney today.