Nursing Home Malpractice
Nursing homes are legally responsible for the care of their residents. The elderly people who live there have the expectation they will experience special care, protection, and treatment.
Unfortunately, many nursing homes have limited oversight, which can result in elder abuse, neglect or maltreatment.
The CDC identifies six primary types of mistreatment that occur to elderly people, which include:
- Physical abuse
- Neglect
- Financial abuse
- Emotional abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Abandonment
Over 500,000 elderly people experience some form of maltreatment every year in the United States, and many of these instances occur in nursing homes.
If you or someone you know has been the victim of nursing home malpractice, the attorneys at Powell & Associates may be able to help you seek legal retribution.
Signs of Nursing Home Malpractice
How do you know nursing home malpractice is occurring? Unfortunately, the signs of elder neglect, abuse and mistreatment can be hard to identify and even more difficult to prove.
Here are a few helpful questions for identifying nursing home malpractice:
- Has your elderly loved one become withdrawn or experienced a change in behavior?
- Has your elderly loved one experienced sudden weight loss?
- Does your elderly loved one have bruises or sores on their body?
- Does your elderly loved one appear dehydrated or malnourished?
Check the state of the nursing home as well. Is there sufficient lighting for residents? Are hallways kept clear of obstacles and spills? There are legal regulations for nursing homes, which they must adhere to in order to maintain a safe and sanitary environment.
Also, take notice of how staff members interact with other residents. If you see a resident being pushed, slapped or getting hit, those are all examples of physical abuse. Elder abuse includes patients who have been physically or medicinally restrained without necessity or who have been falsely imprisoned.
Elder neglect can include patients with medical needs who are not being seen regularly enough. If a resident experiences an infection as a result of a bandage that should have been change sooner, the nursing home may be responsible.
Now that you know some of the signs of nursing home malpractice, read on to understand what constitutes nursing home liability.
Contact Powell & Associates Today
If you suspect nursing home malpractice is occurring, contact the attorneys at Powell & Associates in Buckhead Atlanta for a free legal consultation.
Call 404-240-4104 or send us a message online to learn more.