Circeo Law Firm, PSC
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The decision to place an elderly family member in a nursing home or long-term care facility is one that no family makes lightly. The discovery that your relative is suffering abuse at the hands of their caregiver can overwhelm you with stress and even evoke feelings of anger that someone has harmed your loved one. Statistics suggest nearly 40% of nursing home staff have witnessed at least one abuse incident in the past year. But because elderly patients don’t want to “rock the boat” for fear of retribution or cannot communicate problems effectively, cases are grossly underreported.
You may be reading this now because you suspect a loved one has suffered from mistreatment or negligence in a care facility. Your relative’s health, safety, and happiness in their golden years are on the line, but there is no need to go through this alone. Get in touch with a Louisville nursing home abuse and neglect lawyer at Circeo Law Firm for a free consultation. Our personal injury attorneys are dedicated to fighting for justice on your behalf.
To help protect your loved ones, it is important to know the signs of abuse and neglect in nursing homes, and our dedicated Louisville attorneys have created the following infographics for you to help you identify them.
Nursing Home Abuse Justice compiled statistics from leading organizations like the National Council on Aging (NCOA), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) to determine a breakdown of nursing home abuse complaints:
However, nursing home abuse is just one part of the more significant problem of elder abuse. As many as 5,000,000 people are affected by elder abuse every single year, according to the NCOA.
While nursing home abuse and nursing home neglect both involve mistreating the elderly, workers in the field draw some distinctions.
Also known as “elder abuse,” nursing home abuse is any intentional act that causes harm or serious risk to an elderly adult. Elder abuse can come in many different forms, all of which can occur in a nursing home. Types of elder abuse in nursing homes include:
Elder neglect can be intentional or unintentional. Examples of nursing home neglect include:
Neglect is much more common than abuse in nursing home settings, and no less serious. If you suspect your loved one is a victim of abuse or neglect in their care facility, our Louisville attorneys can step in to help you.
Our Louisville attorneys have been practicing in this legal area for many years, so we understand that any individual in an assisted living facility, personal care home, or nursing home is at risk for neglect or abuse. Still, some may be at a higher risk than others. Risk factors that increase the chances of being a nursing home abuse victim include the following.
Women are more likely to be abused than men. As many as 66% of elder abuse victims were women, according to the NCVC.
Researchers have found a link between lower socioeconomic status and elder abuse. For example, elderly individuals who rely on Medicaid to receive nursing home care may wind up staying at facilities where elder abuse is more common.
According to the NCEA, individuals who were abused or experienced trauma in the past are more likely to become victims of abuse in the future.
Poor mental and physical health may increase the risk of abuse, according to the NCEA. Those who have Alzheimer’s disease or dementia are particularly vulnerable to abuse. The NCOA and NCEA both report that nearly 50% of elders with dementia experienced abuse or neglect.
While the duty of care falls to the nursing facility staff, there are some ways you can get involved with your family member’s wellness plan and catch signs of neglect early on before it causes serious damage.
Research a facility carefully before choosing one. Learn about their hiring process for staff members and what qualifications are looked at. What is the staff-to-resident ratio? Does the facility have a record of neglect or abuse?
Learn about the standards of care in assisted living facilities and what neglect can look like. Share this information with friends and family members who can also take part in watching for signs of negligence.
If a loved one expresses concerns or complaints, take them seriously. Discuss the problem with staff members and follow up to see how the issue is being resolved.
You should visit the facility on a regular basis to check on your family member. Elderly nursing home residents can be at risk for neglect if they do not maintain close contact with family and friends.
If you do find that, despite these precautions, your loved one has been abused or neglected in their nursing home, our Louisville lawyers are here to help you pursue justice on their behalf.
You put your trust in the long-term care facility staff to care for and protect the rights of your loved one. When that trust is broken, it can have devastating consequences for residents and families. When abuse or neglect occurs in the nursing home environment, the facility can be held liable if any of the following played a part in causing harm to a resident or patient.
Remember, the facility is also vicariously liable for the actions of its employees, including actions taken in the course and scope of the worker’s job responsibilities. A nursing home abuse lawyer in Louisville can help fight for compensation. Our attorneys can help with your case in many ways, including:
If the appropriate duty of care is not being met, you may need to take legal action. Filing a lawsuit against a nursing home for negligence or abuse can help you obtain compensation to pay for your loved one’s costs of care.
When the unthinkable happens, nursing home victims and their families have the right to justice and damages. Abuse and neglect cases require a Louisville nursing home lawyer experienced with both state and federal law and whose knowledge of nursing home operations and management may identify systemic causes that demonstrate liability in an incident.
Circeo Law Firm’s attorneys have developed winning strategies for severe physical, emotional, sexual, and financial abuse cases. We have also represented a large number of residents who sustained life-threatening injuries.
With experience in a significant number of nursing home abuse cases in Kentucky, the Circeo Law Firm is a strong choice for advocating against abuse and neglect. Circeo Law Firm’s results for nursing home abuse and neglect clients:
We advocate with you in mind. As we learn of new developments about specific nursing homes, we will continue to post updates and keep you apprised of breaking news.
Our Kentucky nursing home abuse lawyers have passionately advocated for thousands of clients in several states, uncovering the secrets, analyzing the facts, and helping residents and their families pursue justice. With Circeo Law Firm, our clients can trust that responsible parties in the abuse will be held accountable, and victims will receive the compensation they deserve. If you or a loved one has suffered from negligence or abuse at a nursing home or assisted living facility, contact the experienced Louisville nursing home abuse and neglect lawyers of Circeo Law Firm at 1-833-929-HELP.
Work with a trial-tested team committed to maximizing outcomes and protecting your clients’ best interests.
Circeo Law Firm, PSC
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