You’ve done the visitations, sat in on meetings, and helped move your loved one into their new home. When you visit, you may start to notice that your loved one isn’t acting like themselves, or that their clothes clearly haven’t been changed recently. If your loved one isn’t getting the treatment they deserve in their nursing home, it could be because of abuse or neglect. When you learn your loved one isn’t safe in their home, you can take steps to keep them safe and to protect their future. A Scottsdale, AZ nursing home abuse lawyer from Buckingham Barrera Vega Law Firm is here for you and your loved one.
When you see your loved one and they have unexplained injuries, or are constantly left in their bed, their health and wellbeing are in danger. Addressing issues with a responsible nursing home can have positive results, but if you raise these problems and nothing happens, then your loved one is likely not getting the care they need. This is where our law firm steps in.
How Can a Scottsdale Nursing Home Abuse Attorney Help You?
Navigating a legal claim when you’re mainly concerned with your loved one’s health can be an overwhelming situation, but it doesn’t have to be. Having a lawyer on your side means you’ll have someone protecting your loved one’s rights and acting in their best interests. Our attorneys will work diligently to hold the negligent nursing home accountable for what they’ve done and we’ll seek justice for your loved one.
When we’re fighting for compensation, we’ll assess your loved one’s economic and noneconomic damages. This includes the financial losses and emotional consequences of the harm your elderly family member experienced. These losses may be included in your loved one’s compensation:
- Medical Expenses
- Property Damage
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life
- Emotional Distress
- Pain and Suffering
Examining evidence like reports, medical records, photographs, and any other aspect of our investigation will help us build a strong case on your loved one’s behalf. We’ll use this evidence to prove:
- Your loved one was owed a duty of care.
- The nursing home acted in a way that failed to meet this duty of care.
- Your loved one suffered because the nursing home didn’t meet the duty of care.
Your Scottsdale, AZ nursing home abuse lawyer will do everything possible to get your loved one justice. We have experience in protecting nursing home residents and know the rights they’re owed. If any of these are violated, we’ll find out how and who was responsible.
What Nursing Home Abuse Signs Should You Look For?
When your loved one starts living at their home, you may expect an adjustment period. But after they’ve settled and you notice that their care doesn’t seem quite right, then you may want to look for common signs that indicate abuse or neglect.
- Physical. This type of abuse can result in injuries. You may notice bruising or welts. In some cases, this can cause more serious injuries like broken bones. Consistent injury without explanation can indicate physical abuse.
- Emotional. Acting like your loved one isn’t there, can’t understand what staff is saying, or using belittling and disparaging language are ways to cause emotional abuse. You may notice your loved one is quieter and they may seem withdrawn.
- Financial. If your loved one’s finances are fluctuating or you notice that items from their room are missing then someone may be financially exploiting them.
- Sexual. Contraction of STDs, injuries, and acting fearful are all signs of sexual abuse.
- Financial. If you notice that your loved one is in a dirty room, including clothes and bed sheets, hasn’t been bathed, or looks malnourished, then they could be victims of neglect. This typically happens when there isn’t enough staff to provide care to all residents. There may be hours when your loved one needs help but they have to wait for an available nurse.
One of the biggest concerns with abusive or neglectful environments is falling. These can cause major injures to seniors and can take a long time to heal. If they injure their hip and the injury gets infected, they can contract pneumonia. This can result in a prolonged stay in the hospital and the situation can be life threatening.
Other serious injuries that can occur in nursing homes are bed sores, or pressure sores. This is when someone is in the same position for too long. Usually, adjusting positions and using cushions can help alleviate pressure and prevent these sores from occurring. If your loved one is left too long in a bed or a seated position, then a pressure sore can form. When these go untreated, they can worsen and may require surgery to fix.
If you’re wondering about the quality of your loved one’s care and begin to notice these signs, then it’s vital to get them help as soon as possible. Once they’re in a safe place, our nursing home abuse lawyers will step in. We’ll conduct a full investigation to see who was in charge of your family member’s care and who failed to provide them with the care they needed.
Reach Out to a Scottsdale, AZ Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
We understand the feelings that can come with learning your loved one was abused in their nursing home. You’re upset and worried for them, angry at the nursing home, and you may be dealing with feelings of guilt for having put them there. This is not your fault and the nursing home will answer for their actions. Our lawyers will be at your side throughout the process to make sure your loved one’s voice is heard.
To find out more, reach out to our office today and schedule a free consultation of your case. One of our skilled Scottsdale, AZ nursing home abuse lawyers will meet with you and go over what happened. We’ll assess if you have grounds for a claim and we’ll go over your legal options. We’ll start taking these steps forward with you and your loved one.
