Treating and caring for our loved ones as they age can be difficult, especially if they require around-the-clock care and specialized services. For this reason, many families opt to place their elderly loved ones into a nursing home, so that they receive adequate healthcare services. All too often, however, these care facilities fail to provide their patients with the medical and personal care they deserve.
Learning that an elderly loved one was abused in a nursing home can be devastating. If this is a reality in your situation, you do not have to blame yourself; you have legal options. A Ville Platte nursing home abuse lawyer can investigate your loved one’s abuse, determine who can be held financially responsible, and serve justice. You may be able to recover various expenses, including the cost of relocating your family member to a new facility.
To learn more about your legal options in a free case review, call Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers today at (337) 777-7777.
Examples of Elder Abuse
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), elder abuse involves intentional acts. The organization reports that one out of every 10 nursing home patients will experience some form of abuse or neglect. Every year, 643,000 older adults are hospitalized as a result of nonfatal assaults. If you suspect that your loved one has been subjected to any form of abuse, you should immediately take action to promote their wellbeing.
Your Ville Platte nursing home lawyer can address instances of abuse that involve the following:
Medication Issues
Patients that are provided with contaminated drugs, incorrect prescriptions, or improper dosages by nursing home staff can suffer major complications. Other forms of medication errors include giving a patient medication at the wrong time, giving it to them orally rather than intravenously (or vice versa), or preparing medications the wrong way. All of these events can worsen an individual’s health and can lead to hospitalization, serious disabilities, or even death.
Bedsores
Bedsores, also known as pressure ulcers, typically develop where skin meets the bone. Nursing home residents must be moved regularly to prevent bedsores from developing. If you notice bedsores on your loved one, this may be a sign of inattention or improper care at their nursing home.
Product or Device Issues
If a nursing home uses defective or recalled medical devices, they are placing their residents at risk. The use of defective devices can subject a patient to unnecessary pain and suffering, not to mention bleeding or infection. Nursing home employees who do not have sufficient training or do not sanitize devices between use can cause a patient’s death.
Patient Protection Issues
We expect nursing homes to do everything in their power to keep their residents safe. If residents are allowed to wander off unsupervised, especially if they have dementia, their wellbeing is at risk. While outside of the facility, patients could suffer weather exposure, attempt suicide, lose track of time, or suffer serious injuries.
Abusive Care Staff
If a nursing home hires workers who are not properly screened, trained, or supervised, patients are immediately in danger.
Some crimes that can be committed by nursing home staff include:
- Physical assault
- Emotional abuse
- Sexual assault
- Stolen property
- Unauthorized bank access
- Fraud
- Extortion
Despite this exhaustive list, your loved one may have been mistreated in a way that we have not listed here. One of the most important legal burdens your Ville Platte nursing home abuse lawyer will need to undertake is investigating your allegations. Your legal team can review surveillance footage, witness testimony, and other pieces of information to determine who can be held responsible for your loved one’s treatment.
To get started with a free case review, call Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers today at (337) 777-7777.
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What Your Ville Platte Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Can Do for You
Aside from investigating your case, your legal team will need to take on many responsibilities when it comes to promoting your claim’s success. These tasks rest on how your case unfolds. For instance, if the liable party immediately accepts responsibility and offers you a settlement that covers your losses, then your legal team would not have to prepare your case for court.
However, if the liable party refuses accountability or otherwise hinders an investigation, they could have to answer for actions in court. Many nursing home administrators do not want this because of the publicity and costs associated with litigation.
Other services your legal team can perform include:
- Notifying the nursing home of your concerns
- Collecting evidence to support your case
- Negotiating for a settlement that covers your expenses
- Determining who can be held accountable for your loved one’s treatment
- Consulting with a medical professional, if necessary, to gain insight into your loved one’s condition
- Keeping you updated on your legal options as they become available
- Preparing your case for litigation, if applicable
For many civil actions, under Louisiana Civil Code §3492, you have one year to take your case to court. However, when it comes to the statute of limitations for nursing home abuse, matters become complicated. In general, the time you have to act rests on when the abuse took place or when you reasonably should have discovered your loved one’s maltreatment.
Your Ville Platte nursing home abuse lawyer can review the details of your situation and explain how Louisiana’s statute of limitations applies to your case.
Get The HelpYou Need(337) 777-7777To Schedule a FREE CONSULTATION
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Start Advocating for Your Loved One’s Rights Today
Nursing homes must uphold the standard of care or else be found negligent for the treatment of their patients. If you suspect that your loved one has undergone nursing home abuse, call our team today. Your loved one does not have to suffer in silence.
To learn more in a free case review, reach out to Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers today at (337) 777-7777.
Get The HelpYou Need(337) 777-7777To Schedule a FREE CONSULTATION
24 hours a day • 7 days a week
