Nursing home neglect lawsuit investigation

Neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse and abandonment: Who’s affected?

Do you have a loved one who suffered abuse or neglect at a nursing home since Jan. 1, 2022?

Nursing home neglect and abuse are serious issues that can lead to significant injuries and even death. If you’ve witnessed signs of elder abuse and believe your loved one is being neglected or abused in a nursing home or assisted living facility, the time to act is now.

Warning signs of elder abuse may include:

• Bedsores, pressure sores, bruises, pressure marks, broken bones, abrasions, and burns
• Bruises around the breasts or genital area
• Falls, unattended medical needs, poor hygiene, chronic infections, and unusual weight loss
• Strained or tense relationships or frequent arguments between the caregiver and elderly person

Although the first step after noticing these and other warning signs should be calling the authorities for immediate assistance, residents and their loved ones may be searching for additional help in the aftermath. An attorney may be able to help you get those answers and hold the nursing home business accountable, not just for your loved ones, but for others living in the facility.

What is nursing home neglect?

Nursing home neglect and elder abuse can take many forms. The leading types of abuse in nursing homes are:

• Neglect: Failure to provide basic care such as food, medical attention and other assistance can lead to chronic issues such as UTIs and bedsores, or acute injuries such as broken bones from falls.
• Abandonment: Leaving an elderly person unattended and refusing to provide them with the necessary care can count as abandonment. Although this is less common in care facilities like nursing homes, it may still occur.
• Physical abuse: Hitting, kicking or otherwise physically abusing residents can be especially traumatizing because, in many cases, nursing home residents do not have the ability to fight back or protect themselves.
• Sexual abuse: Caregivers may take advantage of incapacitated or bedridden residents by sexually abusing them. This can be emotionally and physically traumatizing.
• Emotional abuse: Harsh words, gaslighting and other emotional abuse from caregivers can have a significant impact on nursing home residents’ mental wellbeing.
• Financial exploitation: Caregivers may take advantage of their charges through emotional means. This can mean taking their money or property or manipulating them into making poor decisions for the caregivers’ own gain.

Unfortunately, nursing home neglect and abuse are widespread issues. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 1 in 6 people over the age of 60 experienced neglect or abuse in a community care setting from 2021 to 2022. These rates only increased due to the COVID-19 pandemic, WHO reports. One report revealed elder abuse occurs in one of every three nursing homes. In fact, abuse estimates suggest that 64.2% of staff admitted to elder abuse within a one-year period.

In many cases, abuse and neglect are the result of understaffing or otherwise inadequate staffing. Caregivers who are overwhelmed by unmanageable workloads may neglect their residents or take their frustrations out on residents through verbal, physical or emotional abuse. Nursing home neglect and elder abuse may also stem from poor training and a lack of supervision.

Can I take legal action for elder abuse?

Families turn to institutions like nursing homes for help taking care of their loved ones and should be able to trust these places to keep their loved ones safe. Systemic abuse and neglect should not be tolerated, and any institution that does not recognize harmful patterns and behaviors, or actively covers them up, must be held accountable.

Residents and family members may be eligible to file a lawsuit against their nursing home if they have experienced neglect or abuse. Survivors may be able to collect compensation for injuries, pain and suffering, medical expenses, and other damages. In some cases, family members may file wrongful death lawsuits on behalf of their loved ones.

Residents and family members have already taken action against neglectful or abusive homes, seeking monetary compensation for injuries, illnesses, pain and suffering, and even wrongful death, including in the case of COVID-related neglect.

Join a nursing home neglect lawsuit investigation

Unfortunately, countless nursing home residents may suffer from neglect and abuse. These residents and their family members may have options for relief by taking legal action.

If you or a family member has been harmed by nursing home abuse, you may be able to sue a nursing home for the following kinds of neglect:

• Failure by the staff to supervise residents, resulting in falls or injuries.
• Negligent hiring of employees who perpetrate abuse and harm against nursing home residents.
• Failure to properly train and supervise nursing home staff.
• Failure to protect the residents from staff or other residents.
• Failure to ensure that the premises are safe and free of hazards, including slippery floors and stairs.
• Failure to maintain adequate health and safety policies, including food safety and sanitation.
• Failure to provide residents with adequate medical treatment.
• Failure to feed or provide nutrition to residents.
• Neglect of residents’ personal hygiene.
• Social or emotional neglect.

If you know someone who may have experienced neglect at the hands of an institutional caregiver since Jan. 1, 2022, take action now.

Please fill out the form on this page for more information.