Elders are one of the most vulnerable populations in Texas. As we age, we often become weaker and need to be more vigilant about our health. Unfortunately, an elderly Texan might not be able to live on their own later in life, or their families aren’t able to care for them full time in their homes. There’s only so much care you can provide for yourself or that your family can cover. That’s why many older Texans choose to become residents at nursing homes.
Even though your family might think they chose the correct facility that is best for your loved one, they still might experience abuse or neglect, which is where our Mission, TX nursing home abuse lawyer can help. We’ll investigate who caused harm to your older family member and prove their actions so that we can hold them accountable for their negligence or abuse. We’ll also look into what they’ve suffered through so that we can calculate exactly what your family is owed in compensation and refuse to settle for less.
Types of Abuse in Mission Nursing Homes
This could be your first family member in a nursing home, or it could be your own first experience being a resident in a long-term care facility. Either way, you might not be fully aware of the darker side that can exist in these places. When you’re in these nursing facilities, you need to know what types of abuse could occur so that you can stay vigilant.
Maybe you suspect that you or a loved one has been abused in their long-term care facility, and you’re working to understand what different types of abuse could have occurred. It can be helpful to know all the possible types of abuse or neglect that happen in nursing facilities so that you can accurately identify exactly what has happened.
Here are the different categories of abuse that could occur in a nursing home:
- Physical. This type of abuse might be the easiest to spot because there will likely be blatant physical signs that you can pinpoint. Physical abuse consists of hitting, pushing, and restraining a resident and often leads to bruises, broken bones, and other physical injuries. If your loved one has unexplained injuries, then they might be suffering from physical abuse.
- Emotional. Emotional and mental abuse can be a bit harder to spot than physical because it involves the way the staff speak to your loved one and how they make them feel. Usually when a resident is experiencing emotional abuse, they’ll draw into themselves and might not be willing to speak with their family anymore, or they could be afraid of threats if they do tell their family.
- Financial. Also harder to spot is financial abuse. If a staff member or fellow resident has convinced your loved one into giving them control of their estate, or if they’ve taken their checks or credit cards, they could be experiencing financial abuse. Any sudden changes in your family member’s finances could be a red flag and mean that someone is abusing them. This could also manifest in stolen valuables from their room.
- Sexual. Unfortunately, sexual abuse is also possible in long-term care facilities. Any kind of unwanted sexual advancements are considered abuse. The signs to look for in your loved one are unexplained STDs, bruising around their genitals, or a drastic mood change for them which could mean they suffered through a traumatic experience.
- Neglect. The rest of the types of abuse are intentional, however neglect can sometimes be unintentional because the facility is overworked and understaffed. Even if the neglect was unintentional, there’s still no excuse for failings in the care of your elderly loved one.
All these different types of abuse can be difficult to watch your family member experience in a place that is supposed to be caring for them. When you suspect they’re being abused, it’s important to act right away to stop the mistreatment and get them to safety. Our Mission, TX nursing home abuse attorney will help you figure out your next steps and guide you through the claims process.
Residents Rights in Texas Nursing Facilities
Before entering a nursing home as a resident, or even when you’re currently a resident, you should be fully aware of the rights you maintain when you’re a patient in a long-term care facility. Just because you live there doesn’t mean you give up your rights that allow you to make your own decisions or living your own life. These are the rights that Texas nursing home residents have when they’re in their facility:
- The right to be free from abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
- The right to make their own decisions regarding their care.
- The right to choose their physician.
- The right to maintain their dignity and be treated with respect.
- The right to practice their own religion.
- The right to be free of discrimination.
- The right to be free of any physical or chemical restraints for discipline rather than medical purposes.
- The right to have visitors and have privacy when they’re visiting.
- The right to take their own phone calls and receive unopened mail.
- The right to make their own financial decisions.
- The right to choose the activities they want to attend, both inside and outside the facility.
These aren’t all the rights that your loved one has, but these are some of the most important ones that they maintain when they’re in a facility. If you suspect that their rights are being violated, you should get legal help so that they can get justice and the facility is held accountable for what they’re doing to residents. Our Mission, TX nursing home abuse lawyer is here to support you and your family member through this process.
Reach Out to Buckingham Barrera Vega Law Firm
We understand how an act of abuse in a nursing home can leave an elderly Texan feeling vulnerable. Even though you deserve justice, you might feel intimidated by taking legal action against a nurse or a nursing facility. You shouldn’t have to choose between healing and financial recovery, which is where our Mission, TX nursing home abuse attorney steps in.
At Buckingham Barrera Vega Law Firm, we have experience representing victims of abuse in long-term care facilities. We know what to look for and the evidence that will help build your case. Reach out to our lawyers today so we can schedule a free consultation and get started working for you.
