Nursing homes are a necessary part of society, as many elderly men and women can't take care of themselves and don't have family members that can take them in. However, nursing home neglect and abuse is an unfortunately common occurrence. Elderly patients may not be able to advocate for themselves, and fall victim to negligence.
If you notice signs of abuse in your loved one or in any other resident of your loved one's nursing home, it is your obligation to report it. Document any signs of abuse you find, and call a nursing home abuse lawyer as soon as possible. If you can, you should try to take your loved one out of the abusive nursing home to prevent further damage, whether physical or psychological.
Call Humberto Izquierdo, Jr. today at 770-888-8901 if you think your loved one's nursing home is neglectful or abusive. We offer free legal consultations, and our entire staff is bilingual in Spanish and English.
Signs Of Abuse You Should Report
Keep a keen eye out whenever you visit your elderly loved one in a nursing home. While staff will reassure you that everything is fine, there are signs you should look out for that could signal abuse or negligence. Look out for:
- Unexplained bruises on residents
- An unhappy or depressed atmosphere
- Unhygienic conditions, such as soiled bedsheets or dirty restrooms
- Bedsores
- Residents acting fearful around staff
- Over- or under-medication
- Staff that seem too busy to give residents their full attention
- Staff that ignore or seem annoyed by residents
- Repeated instances of residents slipping and falling
Nursing homes are most often run by private, for-profit companies. Rather than the comfort and wellbeing of their residents, these companies care about profits. While some nursing homes are exemplary, with residents who genuinely enjoy living there, many others cut corners and don't care about anything but increasing profits.
By reporting nursing home abuse, you are helping not only your own loved one but every other resident who may have been a victim. Holding nursing homes accountable for their actions ensures a better future for our elderly.
Why Should You Hire A Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer?
You may wonder what the benefit is of hiring a lawyer rather than simply reporting the abuse to the Alabama Department of Public Health or other governing body. The answer is that government agencies are often overwhelmed and slow to look into abuse cases unless it is extremely flagrant and posing an immediate risk. A lawyer can immediately start investigating and bring a lawsuit against all liable parties.
Plus, through a lawsuit, you have a chance to recover damages to help your loved one recover from their ordeal. These damages could include:
- Relocation expenses if the resident has to be moved
- Medical expenses for any physical or mental treatments necessary
- Pain and suffering
- Funeral expenses, in the tragic instance of a loved one dying due to abuse or negligence
We are on your side, and will work to hold nursing homes responsible if they cause harm in any way to your loved one.
Schedule Your Nursing Home Consultation
If you suspect the elderly are being abused at a nursing home, please call the Law Offices of Humberto Izquierdo, Jr., PC today at 770-888-8901 to schedule your free consultation. We do not charge anything upfront, and you will not owe us anything until we've reached a successful verdict for you.
We serve clients in Marietta, Cumming, and Atlanta, Georgia.
