As your loved one gets older, they may need specialized, consistent care that will allow them to live a high quality and safe life. Their best option may be a nursing home. While this decision can be emotional and difficult for the family, it’s so the senior gets healthcare, a safe environment, and they will be around peers so they can maintain an active social life. Seniors can thrive in these communities. However, if you notice that your loved one has injuries, illnesses, or their health is rapidly declining, this may be because they’re not getting the treatment they need. You can seek justice with a Dallas, TX nursing home abuse lawyer at your side.
Buckingham Barrera Vega Law Firm will help you stand up for your loved one. We’ll hold the nursing home accountable for their abuse or neglect. Our attorneys will take care of the legal claim so you can focus on helping your loved one recover.
We Protect Texas Nursing Home Residents’ Rights
Texas has a growing senior population and some of that population may need professional care in a nursing home or assisted living facility. It’s also important to realize that seniors have protected rights in the state of Texas. Your Dallas, TX nursing home abuse lawyer knows the rights that your loved one has and will be able to identify what rights were violated. Let’s take a look at some of the rights listed on the Resident’s Bill of Rights.
- A resident has all the rights, benefits, responsibilities, and privileges granted by the Constitution, and laws in the country and state.
- Be free from physical and mental abuse, corporal punishment, and physical and chemical constraints.
- Participate in social, religious, or community groups.
- Be treated with respect, consideration, and recognition of their individuality.
- Have a safe and decent living environment.
These are just a handful of rights that your loved one has—and nursing homes need to abide by them. However, abusive nursing home environments do exist and put their residents in danger of injury, worsening their health condition, or death.
When your loved one’s rights are violated, you deserve to take a stand with them. That’s where our nursing home abuse attorneys can help. We’ll fight for justice for your loved one.
Types and Signs of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
As our lawyers investigate your loved one’s case, we’ll need to find out exactly what was occurring at their nursing home. It could have been elder abuse, which typically involves the willful intent of harm, or neglect, which is when the home isn’t capable of providing them with the care they need.
Abuse can happen in many forms:
- Physical. This can happen when staff treat your loved one too roughly, or resort to hitting or shoving. Physical restraints can also cause injuries.
- Emotional. Treating your loved one poorly, whether it’s through speaking rudely, talking down to them, or acting like they’re not there at all, are all forms of emotional abuse. Staff may also prevent your loved one from seeing others in the home and participating in group activities.
- Financial. Some may steal checks, cash, or expensive belongings from your loved one.
- Sexual. Any action that occurs without your loved one’s consent is sexual abuse. They may also have a condition where they cannot provide consent, which also constitutes abuse.
When elder abuse is occurring, you may be able to spot signs that something isn’t right. You may notice red flags like:
- Consistent injuries like bruises, bumps, or even broken bones.
- A change in your loved one’s attitude, which may become more fearful, agitated, or withdrawn.
- You may be aware of strange activity with your loved one’s finances.
- Injuries near their private areas or contraction of STI’s.
Neglect has other signs. When you visit your loved one and you notice any of the following, it may be because they’re in a nursing home that cannot care for your loved one the way they deserve:
- Loss of Weight. A sudden drop in weight could indicate malnutrition. Your loved one may not get the consistent meals and snacks they need each day to stay as healthy as possible.
- Dehydration. Seniors may have trouble staying hydrated. Staff is supposed to help them stay hydrated and monitor this condition.
- Poor Personal Hygiene. If your loved one isn’t bathed, or if their teeth aren’t clean, or if you notice matted hair, then they’re not getting the consistent care they need. Dirty clothes can also indicate that they’re not having someone take care of them on a regular basis.
- Unsanitary Living Conditions. Unclean bedsheets, dusty rooms, or messes that should have been cleaned up are all signs that indicate the home isn’t keeping the place clean.
- Consistent Illness. If your loved one gets colds or consistently catches the flu, then the nursing home may not be consistently disinfecting or have protocols to prevent the spread of germs. This can be dangerous to seniors as they have a more difficult time fighting these off.
A neglectful nursing home may have too many residents so the staff cannot provide them with attentive care. This could lead to missed doses of medication, seniors who need help using the bathroom may not get help in time, and they could have hours and hours of isolation, which poorly affects their health.
If your loved one is in a bed or wheelchair most of the day, staff is supposed to consistently change their position and ease pressure on areas with pillows to prevent bed sores, or pressure ulcers. Injuries like bed sores indicate your loved one is left in the same position for hours.
There’s never an excuse for abuse or neglect. Your loved one has rights and a Dallas, TX nursing home abuse lawyer will protect them.
A Dallas, TX Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Can Help Your Loved One
We’ll launch a full investigation into your loved one’s injuries. Our lawyers will find out who was responsible for their care, who saw them regularly, and how often they attended to your loved one. Medical records can also indicate when they were injured or if they got sick.
As we look into how your loved one’s health suffered, we’ll also investigate the nursing home’s hiring practices and past. They may have a history of hiring unqualified people or have numerous complaints about the quality of care. We’ll get the whole picture of how this senior community operates and how they failed to care for your loved one.
When we fight for your loved one, we’ll maximize their compensation. This can consist of:
- Medical Expenses
- Property Damage
- Pain and Suffering
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life
- Mental Anguish
We’ll seek full and fair compensation for all their economic and noneconomic damages. They’ll be able to get the care they need when they have financial security. Our lawyers will work diligently to get your loved one on the path to financial, physical, and emotional recovery.
Get in Touch with Buckingham Barrera Vega Law Firm
When your loved one has suffered because of an abusive or neglectful Texas nursing home, we’re here to help you. Once your loved one is in a safe place, you should reach out to Buckingham Barrera Vega Law Firm immediately. We’ll meet in a free consultation to go over what’s happened to your loved one and find out how we can best serve you and your loved one.
