When we make the difficult decision to place our loved one in a nursing home, we do so with the hope that they will be happy and well cared for. It is beyond devastating to find out that your loved one has been abused or neglected while in the care of another. There is nothing more heinous than the act of mistreating the most vulnerable among us.
You have the right to pursue legal action if your loved one has been the victim of nursing home abuse or neglect. In fact, your loved one may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, and a multitude of other damages. A Freeport personal injury lawyer at Friedman & Simon, L.L.P. will analyze the details of your loved one’s case and seek the maximum compensation available.
Call 516-932-0400 today for a free and confidential consultation about your case.
- Types of Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect
- Emotional Abuse
- Sexual Abuse
- How to Prove Liability
- Call Friedman & Simon, L.L.P. Today
Types of Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect
The mistreatment of nursing home residents can take many forms. Some are easier to identify than others. However, even though physical abuse may be most apparent, emotional and sexual abuse can be equally traumatic.
Read on to familiarize yourself with the most common types of nursing home abuse and neglect, and their warning signs. If you believe that your loved one is being harmed in a nursing home facility, speak up and take action by calling us. The legal team at Friedman & Simon, L.L.P. will go after the nursing home for all the damages suffered by your loved one.
Physical Abuse
Physical abuse often leads to unexplained injuries, including bruises and fractures. Common types of physical abuse involve slapping or hitting, punching and kicking, pushing or grabbing, and using unnecessary restraints. Warning signs of physical abuse include:
- Unexplained bruising, broken bones, and dislocations
- Rope marks or other signs of restraint
- Cracked or otherwise broken eyeglasses
- Caregiver’s refusal to let others be alone with the nursing home resident
For a free legal consultation with a Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect lawyer serving Freeport, call (516) 932-0400
Emotional Abuse
Emotional abuse may be more difficult to confirm than physical abuse, but symptoms usually become more obvious over time. Emotional abuse may involve insulting or threatening the victim, isolating the victim from other residents, and exerting control over the victim. Signs of emotional abuse, which can include being witness to a caregiver’s cruel, controlling or threatening behaviors, may include:
- Symptoms that resemble dementia
- Mumbling
- Sucking one’s thumb
- Rocking
Freeport Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Lawyer Near Me (516) 932-0400
Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse of nursing home residents is particularly heinous. Sadly, it happens more often than most people could imagine. Sexual abuse can involve full intercourse, unwanted touching, oral sex, and groping. Symptoms of sexual abuse include:
- STDs
- Genital infections
- Bruising near the victim’s private parts (genitals, anus, and breasts)
- Vaginal or anal bleeding
- Stained or torn underwear
- Significant changes in behavior, including, for example, not wanting to be left alone with a caregiver
Financial Abuse
Financial abuse can involve the unauthorized use of credit cards and checks, as well as the theft of cash and personal items. Financial abuse may also include document forgery, misuse of power of attorney, and deceiving the victim into relinquishing control of their money or assets. Common warning signs include:
- Sudden changes in life insurance policies and power of attorney
- Missing cash
- Unexplained bank withdrawals
- Unexplained ATM withdrawals
- Unexplained subscriptions, goods, or services
Neglect
When a nursing home fails to meet the basic needs of a nursing home resident, this constitutes neglect. Neglect includes denying the victim food and water, sleep, correct medication doses, personal hygiene, and personal safety, among other things. Warning signs include:
- Unsafe and/or unsanitary living conditions (lack of heat or air conditioning, soiled bedding, fire hazards, dirty bathroom facilities)
- Not properly or adequately bathing the victim
- Dirty clothing
- Bedsores
- Unexplained weight loss
- Dehydration
- Malnutrition
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How to Prove Liability
At Friedman & Simon, L.L.P., we will thoroughly investigate your loved one’s case to obtain evidence and documentation substantiating the claim. We will work tirelessly to identify the party or parties who caused harm to your loved one. In nursing home abuse and neglect cases, there are often multiple at-fault parties. These may include an individual staff member, the nursing home facility itself, or all of the above. In some cases, even outside visitors are responsible for abuse.
Depending on the particulars of your case, you may be filing a personal injury claim or medical malpractice claim.
In some cases, nursing home abuse and neglect victims do not survive. If you lost a loved one to nursing home abuse or neglect, you may be eligible to file a wrongful death claim. We know nothing can bring your loved one back, but we would be honored to help you seek justice.
Regardless of the type of claim you file, a Freeport nursing home abuse and neglect lawyer will gather, depending upon the unique circumstances of each case, the following evidence to show liability:
- Medical records
- Surveillance video and pictures
- Statements from eyewitnesses
- Nursing home safety records
- Testimony from expert witnesses
Statute of Limitations
New York has statute of limitations on nursing home abuse and neglect case. If this window of opportunity is missed, you loved one may permanently lose their right to obtain compensation for any damages suffered. In addition to the statute of limitations, there are other applicable time-deadlines in prosecuting a case. Do not miss important deadlines by waiting too long. Consult with a Freeport, NY nursing home abuse and neglect attorney today.
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Call Friedman & Simon, L.L.P. Today
At Friedman & Simon, L.L.P. we understand the sensitive nature of nursing home abuse and neglect cases. Our compassionate, knowledgeable attorneys will seek the maximum compensation you are entitled to. We strongly believe that those responsible for the mistreatment of the most vulnerable among us should be held accountable for their actions. Do not suffer in silence. Get the compensation you or your loved one deserve.
Call us today at 516-932-0400 for a free and confidential consultation about your case with a Freeport nursing home abuse and neglect lawyer.
Call or text (516) 932-0400 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form