Nursing Home Abuse and Seeking Lawyer Help

Nursing Home Abuse and Seeking Lawyer Help

Nursing home abuse can affect any of our loved ones, despite how clean, organized, or friendly a nursing home might seem. Unfortunately, nursing abuse cases are all too common, with an estimated 15,000 abuse cases reported in 2020 alone.

If you or someone you know is the victim of nursing home abuse, it’s essential to get the help of a nursing home attorney as soon as possible. The attorneys at The Rooth Law Firm are here to offer advice, consultations, and the best legal representation so victims get the justice they deserve.

What Is Nursing Home Abuse?

Nursing home abuse is any type of abuse that occurs while a patient is enrolled in a nursing home. Abuse in nursing homes can range from moderate to severe. For instance, bullying and slight comments are considered emotional abuse, as is physical abuse.

Nursing home abuse cases might be attributed to caretakers hurting residents or residents hurting other residents. However, it typically does not include a family member or visitor harming a patient at a nursing home.

Types of Nursing Home Abuse

It’s important to recognize the signs of abuse so you or a loved one can get in touch with elder care lawyers as soon as possible. Below are some common types of nursing home abuse cases and what they might look like.

Physical

Around 29% of nursing home abuse cases involve physical abuse, according to the Nursing Home Abuse Justice Organization. Physical abuse can be perpetrated by a worker or another resident. Physical abuse can be:

• Burning
• Poking
• Pinching
• Slapping
• Hair-pulling
• Causing pain by interfering with medical equipment
• Causing pain by interfering with medication
• Starvation or withholding food
• Sexual abuse or sexual assault

Sadly, many residents are not able to defend themselves against abuse. The numbers for physical abuse might be higher, considering not all residents report their physical abuse.

Emotional

Emotional abuse involves harming someone’s feelings or worsening their mental health. Some examples of emotional abuse include

• Name-calling
• Bullying
• Withholding family visits
• Withholding social events or fun activities
• Anything that causes psychological damage

Around 21% of abuse cases in 2018 involved psychological abuse. This is one of the most difficult cases to prove since no physical evidence supports a loved one’s abuse claims. You will need the help of a nursing home attorney.

Financial

According to The National Consumer Voice, financial exploitation is one of the fastest-growing crimes. Financial abuse includes:

• Using an older person’s funds for personal use
• Adding charges to a resident’s bill that are fraudulent
• Withholding cash for the family, SSI payments, and even pension checks

Causes and Signs of Home Abuse

There is never a good cause for elder abuse. However, some caretakers might abuse elders due to burnout, frustration at their workplace, or simply due to gross negligence. Whatever the reason is, there are several signs of abuse to look out for, including:

• Physical marks, cuts, bruises, or injuries on your loved one
• Increased depression and withdrawal
• Fear when a loved one returns to a nursing home
• Fear of talking to others about the staff
• Fits of crying or negative self-talk
• Increased agitation
• Unfamiliar financial charges
• Sudden discharge from a nursing home

Nursing Home Abuse Laws

Many laws can help prevent and punish abuse in nursing homes. Criminal laws can bring people to justice for crimes such as assault and financial abuse.

Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA), commonly known as the Nursing Home Reform Act, sets the standards for a quality nursing home that ensures the fulfillment of

If you or someone you know is being abused but don’t know where to go, tip lines in your state can help provide information and resources. You can also contact a nursing home litigation lawyer for help if you need to file a lawsuit.

Our nursing home abuse litigation team at The Rooth Law Firm will fight on your behalf so you can get the settlement you deserve. We will build the best case possible to prove your abuse and get you compensation for injuries, pain, suffering, emotional damage, and more. Call us today to see how we can help you or a loved one get justice for abuse.