A nursing home is responsible for providing its residents with a safe and hygienic environment. However, only about 20 percent of nursing home abuse cases get reported, according to the National Association of Nursing Home Attorneys (NANHA).
Whenever you visit a loved one in a nursing home, look for any signs of neglect or abuse. If you suspect your loved one may be a victim, you can start taking steps to get them the help they need. If you notice they sustained injuries in a nursing home in Andrew, Louisiana, you can hire a lawyer to help you build your case.
An Andrew nursing home abuse lawyer may be able to use their resources to investigate the nursing home and determine the type of abuse that your loved one suffered. They can help you pursue compensation and safeguard your loved one’s rights and wellbeing.
Nursing home abuse or neglect cases can be difficult to prove. In some instances, the victim may be reluctant or afraid to file charges against their abusers. Let Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers help you seek justice for your loved one. Call our team at (337) 777-7777.
Be Aware of These Signs of Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect
Knowing the signs of abuse or neglect can be critical in helping your loved one leave an unsafe environment for them. In many cases, nursing home residents will deny that they are victims of abuse.
Some signs you can look out for include:
Unusual Behavior or Changes in Their Personality
Your loved one’s behavior is usually the first thing that will change if they are experiencing abuse or neglect. They might change their behavior around certain nurses, staff, or guests, so you may want to observe how they interact with others in the home. Take note of whether your loved one acts fearful or depressed. Changes in personality might indicate an underlying issue is going on in the facility.
Bruises or Open Cuts
Open cuts or bruises on the resident’s body are also indications that they might be a victim of abuse. If you notice recurrent bruises and cuts on your loved one, you should document their condition and seek medical attention. Even if your loved one or staff try to give explanations, investigate further. Another physician can determine whether the bruises might be a sign of abuse.
Poor Hygiene
Poor hygiene may indicate that the nursing home staff are not properly taking care of your loved one. For instance, if you often find your loved one with dirty clothes or sitting in their urine or waste, this might be a sign that they are being neglected by their nurse caretakers.
Refusal to Take Meals
Refusal to take meals is also another sign that you should not ignore. If your loved one refuses to take meals, this might indicate that the nursing home denies them food. It could also be a sign of depression or anxiety as a result of abuse or neglect.
Take note of every sign you observe, even if it does not seem like abuse. Evidence of abuse or neglect might not be clear and may require further investigation. If you have any questions or suspicions on whether your loved one is a victim of abuse at a nursing home, let an Andrew nursing home abuse lawyer work on your case.
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ClientCertain Factors Contribute to Nursing Home Abuse
Certain factors contribute to nursing home abuse, such as:
- Inadequate training of staff
- Drug or alcohol addiction
- Working in a stressful environment
Having an improperly trained or inadequate staff may lead to nursing home abuse. The staff might not know how to handle certain situations, especially when dealing with residents. Staff might also struggle to cope with the daily needs of the residents. This may create a situation where the staff resort to neglecting or abusing residents.
A staff member who is a drug or alcohol addict might abuse residents. They might act inappropriately or abusively when high on drugs or drunk or try to extort money from residents to fuel their addiction.
A stressful working environment can breed abuse and neglect, which may reveal failures on the facility’s part. For instance, if the nursing home has a limited staff, the workers might have to take care of more residents than they can handle. Strained staff can lead to workers making careless mistakes, forgetting certain duties, and causing preventable accidents. Workers might also take out their frustration on residents if they are overstressed.
If your loved one suffered an injury due to nursing home abuse, you may be able to get compensation on their behalf. Reach out to Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers today at (337) 777-7777. We can give you a free case review and discuss your legal options.
Types of Nursing Home Abuse
The main types of abuse elderly citizens suffer in nursing homes are:
- Sexual abuse
- Financial abuse
- Physical abuse
- Psychological and emotional abuse
- Neglect
Not reporting abuse only makes the situation worse since it allows perpetrators to continue their behavior. According to the National Ombudsman Reporting System, only 14,258 of 188,599 nursing home abuse complaints got reported in 2014. This shows that a great number of abuse cases do not get formally reported.
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Rick Smith | ClientContact Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers Today
Your loved one may be compensated for their economic and noneconomic damages, though these damages may vary based on the abuse or neglect they experienced. The court may also decide to give you punitive damages if your case reveals particularly egregious behavior.
Work with an Andrew nursing home abuse lawyer from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyer to get your case started. We are only a phone call away. Call us at (337) 777-7777 to discuss your case. We offer a free case evaluation.
