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Each year, millions of American families nationwide consider placing a family member in a nursing home or an assisted living community where they hope the day-to-day needs of their loved one would be satisfied in a safe, convenient, and comfortable environment. To many of them, the recent statistics suggesting that nursing home abuse and neglect is becoming an epidemic in the United States are more than alarming.
Elder abuse and neglect at nursing homes and assisted living communities can take a variety of physical, emotional, or financial forms that are sometimes subtle. At those facilities where nurses or employees are incompetent, malicious, or negligent, senior citizens are subjected to physical injuries, emotional distress, sexual abuse, and financial exploitation. A recent survey indicates that approximately 2 million American senior citizens are exposed to some form of elder abuse or neglect taking place at a nursing home or an assisted living community. The actual number of victimized senior citizens in nursing homes is deemed much larger when considering the fact that a majority of nursing home abuse and neglect cases go unreported.
Typical signs of physical abuse by a caretaker include unexplained bruises or cuts; torn or bloody clothing; and broken bones. Meanwhile, intimidation through yelling or threats; humiliating remarks, gestures, or instructions; ignoring the patient's needs; isolating the patient from other residents and/or activities; terrorizing the patient; or mocking the patient could all constitute actionable emotional abuse, if demonstrated by sufficient evidence. Caretakers, nursing homes, or assisted living communities could also be liable for elder neglect if medications are not administered properly or in a timely manner, unclean clothing or bed linens remain unattended, unsanitary living conditions exist, or there are signs of malnourishment or dehydration on the part of senior citizens. Where a caregiver misuses an elderly resident's checks, accounts, or credit cards; steals her/his money, checks, or belongings; forges her/his signatures; authorizes withdrawals or transfer of monies without consent; steals her/his identity; or induces her/him into phony charities or shady investment opportunities, a valid legal claim on the basis of financial exploitation may arise.
We at Jordan Law Firm, PC believe that no senior citizens should be abused, ignored, or neglected by their caretakers or in the nursing home or nursing facility with whom their day-to-day care and protection has been entrusted. Our nursing home liability lawyers subscribe to the idea that all senior citizens deserve to enjoy living in a safe, clean, and comfortable environment and, accordingly, will represent their interests zealously and diligently. Our nursing home liability attorneys also believe that effectively raised legal claims or actions often deter the malfeasant, negligent, or irresponsible caretakers and nursing facilities from injuring senior citizens.
If you believe or suspect that you or your loved one has been abused or neglected by an entrusted caretaker or in a nursing facility, you should contact a supervisor or manager at the facility immediately. For legal advice or representation concerning your situation in the context of nursing home/assisted living community liability, please do not hesitate to contact the nursing home liability team at Jordan Law Firm. We represent victims of elder abuse, nursing home neglect and their families statewide. If your loved one has been abused or neglected while under the care of a nursing facility in Rock Hill, York, Chester, Lancaster, Winnsboro, Charleston, Greenville, Spartanburg, Lexington or anywhere in the state, give us a call.
