When we think about nursing homes, most of us think about a safe haven where we can send our loved ones when caring for them has become too much. This should be a place that we can trust and can act as a home for our elders. Whether these loved ones are too frail for you to properly take care of, or if they are sick, you trust that they are getting the best care possible and are not being mistreated in any way, shape, or form.
Unfortunately, however, this is not always the case.
Sometimes at nursing homes and care facilities, there are people that prey on the sick, whether it be for their own personal gain or some other reason. When the elderly are unattended, especially if they are sick or unable to care for themselves, they are considered an easy target for many different abuse and neglect actions. These actions can be a result of anger, selfishness, or can even be treated as a threat.
At Finney Law Office, LLC, we will not stand by and let this continue to happen. We have a team of nursing home negligence and abuse attorneys that are here to help. If you suspect your loved one has been a victim of this type of treatment, call us today. We understand what these types of actions can mean to a person in that state of health or age, and we will not sit back and let these actions continue to happen.
The elderly make an easy target for many different kinds of abuse.
Many elderly victims of this type of abuse or negligence find it difficult to get their voice heard. This can be for a variety of different reasons. Many people of this age have begun to lose their memory or have developed some other sort of mental instability. So, when they approach someone with an allegation of abuse, oftentimes they find themselves being dismissed.
When the abuse has been done by a staff member of a nursing home, whether the other staff members believe it or not, the nursing home as a whole may deny the claims as to not hinder their reputation. Nursing homes and care facilities would lose a lot of incoming business if they had a reputation or were in the news because of abuse or neglect. So, even if it may be possible that the victim is telling the truth, many of these cases get “swept under the rug” in order to uphold the reputation of the facility as a whole. Unfortunately, the patient’s word does not usually outweigh the staff’s.
If this seems to be the case, and it seems like your pursuit is going nowhere, working with a lawyer from Finney Law Office, LLC can help you get this case off the ground. We understand how frustrating it can be to know that your loved one is being mistreated, only to have no one believe you. It is difficult to receive compensation when there is no belief behind your case, so it is important to team with an attorney who can fight for you. You may feel hopeless now, but giving us a call about your situation can help instill confidence that justice will be served.
Do not ignore suspicion.
Sometimes suspicion is just that—suspicion. However, sometimes it can be justified by actual events that have occurred. Nursing home negligence and abuse is unfortunately too common to let suspicion pass as anything less than something to be investigated. Federal law defines nursing home negligence as “willful infliction of injury, unreasonable confinement, intimidation, or punishment resulting in physical harm, pain, or mental anguish.”
With this definition in mind, the most important word to remember is intent. This means that the abuser had to have done it on purpose. All of us make mistakes—accidents happen. So if there was some sort of mistake made to the detriment of a patient, while it may still be suable, it does not fall under the term of nursing home negligence. It is when the person willfully inflicted this pain that it falls into this category. There are three overarching categories that define this negligence; abuse, neglect, or medical malpractice. Within these categories, there are various forms of the most common abuse. These include:
- Physical abuse
- Psychological abuse
- Assault and battery
- Sexual abuse
- Non-medically approved drug distribution
When it comes to the neglect category, deprivation of medical care, nutrition, and necessities are the most common forms. This means that the caretaker does not actually have to touch the victim or administer something specific to the patient, but instead ignore them in some way. It is the job of the caretaker to provide certain necessities, and when those aren’t provided correctly, or at all, this can be detrimental to the patient. Most nursing home residents are there because they cannot take care of themselves in some way, so when the staff neglects to take care of them, it can result in illness, injury, or even death. Even simple indifference can be categorized this way. A caretaker’s job is to care, and when these needs are not met, consequences can ensue at the expense of the patient.
Do not be afraid to reach out.
This can be a very touchy subject, because it is not something that we hear about often, like car accidents. However, this is not something that should be ignored. If you or a loved one has been a victim of nursing home negligence or abuse, do not hesitate to contact a St. Louis attorney at Finney Law Office, LLC. If even the small suspicions are overlooked, illness, injury, or even death can ensue. We do not want to sit back while this happens. Please act on this suspicion and call us today. You and your loved one have too much to lose.