Signs of Nursing Home Abuse and What to Look for When Selecting an Attorney
The sad truth is that nursing home abuse has become really common in the last couple of years. This is specifically why a new niche has been created, as many lawyers focus exclusively on solving this sort of cases.
So, how would we characterize nursing home abuse? How do you determine if one of your loved ones is a victim in this case? Most importantly, though, what should you do in this respect?
Signs of Nursing Home Abuse
First of all, we’ll define nursing home abuse. Expressly, there are specific categories of nursing home abuse, such as sexual or physical abuse, emotional abuse, healthcare fraud, financial exploitation, abandonment, neglect, and so on and so forth.
Considering that the areal of nursing home abuse is quite broad, it is essential to comprehend and address the warning signs.
Statistically speaking, a high percentage of all the nursing homes in the United States have been cited for violations of elder abuse rights and laws. Because nursing home residents are commonly not well-suited to protect their own rights, it is incumbent on family members to monitor, observe, and actively supervise the care of your family member in the nursing home. If you suspect that your loved one has been a victim of nursing home abuse, an qualified nursing home attorney will help you review the circumstances. This is pointed out by a nursing home abuse law firm in Tampa.
With that in mind, the warning signs of physical abuse, for instance, are sudden injuries or unexpected physical conditions that cannot be explained: sprained joints, broken bones, burns, and bruises, so on and so forth. Meanwhile, signs of emotional abuse include the withdrawal from social activities, an unprecedented change in behavior, isolation, and the presence of caregivers that are aggressive.
In the case of neglect or abandonment, then the living space would be dirty, the bedding spoilt, the patient’s personal hygiene is deteriorating, so on and so forth. These are all warning signs that require your immediate action.
What to Look for When Selecting an Attorney?
You’ve decided that your beloved one is a victim of nursing home abuse. What do you do from this point onward? Categorically, the next step is to look for the assistance of a professional that you can trust – namely an experienced attorney.
Evidently, each state has different laws and regulations concerning nursing home abuse, and you should get your facts straight before proceeding with a lawsuit. Essentially, the attorney you choose should be knowledgeable regarding the procedures in the state in which you live. You should ask him/her a range of questions, and, depending on the answers, you should be able to make a sensible decision.
To conclude, note that a nursing home lawyer usually does the following: he gathers critical information for building up a case, starts the legal action, prepares for the trial, negotiates the settlement, commences the trial and resolves the lawsuit. Additionally, lawyers expect ultimate transparency from their clients, which is why you should be honest and disclose all the information you have at your disposal.
