You trust a nursing home to provide intricate and ongoing care for your family member because you cannot do so at home. When they fail, and your family member suffers, call an experienced Pahrump nursing home abuse lawyer to help you. At H&P Law, our experienced Pahrump personal injury lawyer helps people who are hurt by the negligence of others every day – let us help you, too.
Recognizing the Signs of Nursing Home Abuse
Many people struggle with communicating that they have been abused in a nursing home setting due to communication concerns or because they do not want to bother others. Sometimes, people are afraid or embarrassed, too. For that reason, it is critical for family members to consistently monitor for the most common nursing home abuse and signs, including the following:
- Withdrawing from activities, no longer wanting visitors, or becoming less communicative in general
- Suffering bruises or injuries not otherwise explained
- Falling out of bed or on slippery floors
- Poor hygiene, such as wearing the same clothing numerous days in a row
- Poor nutrition or health care
- Missed or improper medication
In situations where you feel that your family members are in immediate danger, contact a Pahrump nursing home abuse attorney right after you contact the local emergency room for medical care. Let our legal team help you determine what steps can be taken to protect your family member immediately while also seeking compensation for any losses they suffered. Do not wait – contact us for immediate help instead.
What H&P Law Will Do in a Nursing Home Abuse Case
With the help of a nursing home abuse lawyer in Pahrump, you can count on having reliable legal support through even the most challenging of situations. We encourage you to first prioritize your family member’s health and well-being and then allow our legal team to handle the rest of the process. We will help you understand nursing home injuries and your rights with a wide range of factors:
- Gather evidence. You may not have all of the information available about what occurred. Our attorneys will gather the details including employment logs, verification of safety and procedural compliance, and incident reports. We will take every step possible to get the details of what occurred.
- Provide you with legal strategies. Our attorneys then work with you to determine the best legal strategy forward. We are committed to providing you with excellent, hands-on reliability throughout this challenging situation.
- Handle the claims process. When possible, we negotiate with the insurance company and get the settlement you need. If that is not possible, we will take them to court on your behalf.
Nursing home abuse cases are complicated because there is a lot of bureaucracy behind them, including insurance companies that will do anything they can to reduce the compensation paid out. Our attorneys at H&P Law know how to handle these challenges. Let us seek out the support your loved one deserves.
Injuries Commonly Associated with Nursing Home Abuse
One of the ways you and our legal team can work to determine what is occurring with your family member is to consider the types of injuries and illnesses they have. Your family member has the right to a safe, clean location that keeps them protected and supported. If they have injuries like the following, it may be worth taking a closer look at any specific incidents that could indicate abuse:
- Bedsores, called decubitus ulcers
- Slip and fall accident-related injuries, such as severe bruising or broken bones
- Restraint injuries, including both chemical and physical restraint use
- Medication error injuries and illnesses
- Misdiagnosis or non-diagnosis of conditions
- Physical abuse, including bruises, burns, and emotional trauma
- Injuries suffered due to a person wandering away or not being cared for
Do not overlook the impact of mental health abuse. A person who is abused, neglected, or otherwise treated unfairly is likely to suffer physical ailments from this as well. For example, if a person is treated poorly or injured when they call for assistance, they may stop asking for help or may avoid situations where that risk occurs. That could lead to accidents in beds, falls from trying to get up on their own, or malnutrition from not receiving food.
Inadequate Staffing Is Not an Excuse
It is quite common for nursing homes to say they are short-handed. That is often used as an excuse for why a person did not get the care they needed, or mistakes were made. If you learn of short staffing, reach out to the local health department to report this type of abuse so that something can be done.
Some facilities do not have enough staff because they try to cut costs by not providing enough employees for shifts. Without the proper number of people present, residents suffer, and families may have no idea this is occurring. Some may even use restraints or leave residents unsupervised as a direct result of this.
In many situations, organizations will not hire qualified help; instead, they may employ people who lack training or experience as a way to keep costs low. That can also lead to injuries from neglect or mistakes – and it is not okay for the organization to allow this to happen. In these situations, we strongly encourage you to seek out the help of a trusted nursing home abuse attorney in Pahrump.
What Should You Do if the Nursing Home is Always Short-Staffed?
When there are concerns about staffing, do your best to be present as often as possible to ensure that your family member is getting the care they need to thrive. In situations where you do not see that occurring or you witness others struggling, it is certainly worth contacting the local health department to report what is occurring. In serious cases, you may wish to contact the Attorney General’s office as well.
Put a Pahrump Nursing Home Abuse Attorney to Work
Call H&P Law to let us act on behalf of you and your family members. A Pahrump nursing home abuse lawyer is experienced, aggressive, and ready to work hard to protect your family member. We are happy to offer a free consultation to discuss your case.
