Nursing Home Abuse LawyerGerald, MO
Fighting Negligence and Abuse in Nursing Homes
When choosing an assisted living facility for your family member, trust is a huge part of the choice. Your family's trust and your loved one's health have been violated by the very institution you chose. You need a Personal Injury Lawyer in Gerald that has experience fighting Nursing Home Abuse Lawsuits. Our Personal Injury Law Firm in Gerald is dedicated to protecting and fighting for the rights of those who have been injured and don't have the recourse or capability of fighting for their rights by themselves. We have the experience that your family needs to fight this Nursing Home Abuse lawsuit, and we won't stop until the business or individual who harmed your loved one is held fully responsible for their actions. We never charge to discuss your case, and you won't owe our lawyers any fees unless we win your nursing home abuse claim. Call or contact our Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in Gerald now.
How can I tell if my loved one is being abused in a nursing home?
Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Gerald
If your loved one is being abused, or is being neglected in their care, there are signs that will point to this neglect. Does your loved one look like they've lost an unhealthy amount of weight? Their caregiver might not be giving them all the food they need, or the right nutrients. Have they develop sores on their underside, or have agitated red skin? If they are bed or wheelchair bound, then they aren't being moved regularly to prevent these sores. Does your loved one looked scared or hesitant to talk around certain staff members? The staff may be abusing them. Listed below are several signs to look for when trying to determine if your loved one is being either abused or neglected by their caregivers.
1. Nursing Home Abuse Malnourishment
Elder Abuse Lawyer Gerald, MO
A lack of eating or nutrition has obvious and apparent effects on a person. The signs of malnourishment or a lack of feeding include thin skin, emaciation, and a general appearance of weakness or fatigue. This isn't right, and it's not ok. Your family member needs and deserves their food, and they should get it. Negligence and abuse are never ok, and you can sue the nursing home in court. What are other clear signs of possible malnourishment? Our Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in Gerald have identified these conditions as possible signs of malnourishment:
- Skin Issues - The skin will take on a yellow hue, and in darker complexions, the skin may appear dull and heavily wrinkled. An additional warning is that the skin under the fingernails will take on a pale hue.
- Mouth Sores or Discoloration - If the mouth appears bright red, or if cankers sores are present, your loved one may be malnourished. Yeast infections or thrush infections are also a sign, and cause white patches to develop on the cheeks and tonuge.
- Eye Issues - Worsening vision is a clear sign of malnourishment, as well as overly red eyes, glassy eyes, or swollen corneas.
- Muscular Problems - If your loved one is weak after completing simple everyday tasks, or their muscles appear flaccid, the may be suffering from malnourishment.
Here is a short video detailing Nursing Home Abuse Malnourishment, and how our Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers can help.
2. Nursing Home Abuse Bed Sores
Nursing Home Neglect Lawyer Gerald
Bed sores are an ailment that arises from individuals who are immobile, causing wounds that can eat down to the bone. These wounds develop from pressure and lack of blood flow, and can cause the loss of limbs and life. If your loved one developed bed sores while at a nursing home, they were neglected and not given the care they deserve. Bed Sores are even common in intensive care units. Bed sores are preventable, and they are treatable. Here are the different stages of bed sores our nursing home abuse lawyers in Gerald have identified that can show your loved one may have bed sores:
- Stage 1. Bed Sore - Skin that is itchy, red, and unusually warm.
- Stage 2. Bed Sore - Sores or blisters are now appearing on the skin.
- Stage 3. Bed Sore - The sore worsens and turns into as cavity.
- Stage 4. Bed Sore - Bones, muscles and ligaments are visible at this stage, and infection is nearly guaranteed.
Remember, bed sores, or the other name they are known by, pressure sores, are preventable. Proper care and attention is a direct combatant to bed sores, and if your loved one was being taken care of, they wouldn't have the sores. You can sue for bed sores, and you absolutely should. Negligence is never ok, and should never be accepted regardless of what excuse the nursing home or long-term care facility gives you. Call our Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in Gerald now. We'll make sure your loved one gets the care and recovery they deserve.
Here is a short video about Bed Sores and what you can do about them.
3. Nursing Home Abuse or Mistreatment
Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Gerald
Abuse isn't always apparent, and your loved one may either not be willing to admit or not able to admit that they are being abused. You trusted the assisted living facility to take care of your loved one, and instead, they treated them terribly and abused them. You should never accept any excuses they give you, and you may even be able to call the authorities. Here are several signs to look for when you suspect your loved one is being abused or neglected:
- Financial Exploitation - If you aren't checking their finances daily, it can be easy to miss. {Higher than normal credit card bills, missing checks, or Wills that have been recently altered could be clear signs of financial exploitation of your loved one|If their credit cards are maxed out, if they are missing checks, or their will has been altered and you weren't alerted, this is a clear sign of exploitation|If their checks have gone missing, if their credit cards are being declined, and if any of their other finances appear to out of order, these can be signs of exploitation|The signs for this type of abuse will be altered wills, mysterious power of attorney forms, maxed out credit cards, and missing checks.
- Neglect - This type of abuse leads to malnourishment, possible bed sores, dirty living conditions, and often serious infections. Neglect from a caregiver can also lead to self neglect.
- Physical Abuse - Abuse is apparent when your loved one has unexplained scratches, bruises, broken bones, and other physical marks they didn't have before. If your loved one is suffering from any of these types of abuse, the police can be involved in the abuse. You can also, and should also sue. Our Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in Gerald will fight for the recovery and rights of your loved one.
- Psychological Abuse - Psychgological abuse is when a care provider verbally abuses your loved one, and causes your loved one to act nervous around them, or hesitant to speak. This type of abuse is bullying, and can cause wounds as terrible as physical ones.
Here is a short video our Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in Gerald have prepared:
Are there any laws governing nursing home care?
Elder Abuse Lawyer Gerald, MO
The Nursing Home Reform Act set the laws and regulations that govern assisted living facilities today. These laws can be used to show that your loved one is receiving care that isn't up to the standard of the law. According to the Nursing Home Reform Act, here is a quick breakdown of the rights your loved one can expect:
- Freedom from Abuse
- Freedom from Restraints
- The Right to Privacy
- The Right to Accommodation of social needs, psychological needs, physical needs, and medical needs
- The Right to Participate in Resident and Family Groups
- The Right to be treated with dignity
- The Right to exercise self-determination
- The Right to communicate freely
- The Right to review and participate in any aspect of the care they are receiving and any changes to it
- The Right to voice grievances
Your loved one has rights, by law, and if they've been violated you can pursue legal action against the Nursing Home or Assisted Living Facility that was entrusted with their care. Our Personal Injury Lawyers in Gerald are well versed in the laws the govern nursing homes and the levels of care that residents are entitled to. We can help you and your family if you decide to pursue a claim against the assisted living facility. You have options, and those who harmed your family can be held accountable. Call or Contact Our Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in Gerald now to protect your family.