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The decision to admit a loved one in a nursing home can be difficult and heart-wrenching, and may even cause feelings of guilt. This is especially true when problems arise and you end up needing the assistance a Trenton, NJ nursing home abuse lawyer. You may feel like you have failed as a caregiver or you may place blame on yourself for trusting the facility in the first place. However, the blame realistically does not rest with you. Most people try to find a quality, caring home for their loved ones and it is likely that you first exhausted every other option before admitting your loved one to the nursing home. Don’t blame yourself. Find out what really happened. Talk to the lawyers at Davis & Brusca. You deserve the truth. Put our experience to work for you.
You turned to a Trenton, NJ nursing home or assisted living facility to deliver the best possible care to your loved one. You trusted them and likely endured considerable stress and anxiety in the process of selecting the facility. You will have wondered if the staff will understand the needs for your loved one? How responsive will they be they when help is requested? Will they ensure that medications are given at the correct time? These are all important questions to ask when visiting the home to determine if it is a right fit for your loved one. Unfortunately, the results delivered often fail to measure up to the promises the facility gave you in order to get your business.
Nursing home abuse is scary. The resident may endure physical, emotional, sexual, and financial exploitation. At Davis & Brusca, our nursing home abuse lawyer in Trenton, NJ have seen first hand the many ways that nursing home abuse can happen, an dhow it affects the elderly loved one and their close family members. We strive not only to seek compensation for abuse once its occurred, but also to help prevent people from suffering this tragedy to begin with. As such, we believe our duty extends to helping our community and our clients to understand the tell-tale signs of nursing home abuse, neglect and misconduct in the hope of preventing the most serious harms from occurring. These signs are sometimes obvious, but not always. As such, getting to the core of the problem may require a fair amount of investigation.
The family members of the senior relative may not want to fight this battle alone. If you are looking to sue the facility for abuse, it is vital that you help to gather and preserve proof of what happened — preferably while it is still fresh. For example, the law mandates that nursing homes provide residents with a safe and decent living environment. That is a “right” guaranteed to all residents. So, if you see your relative is living in filthy conditions, that right has been taken from your loved one and legal remedies can be pursued. Document the conditions with a picture. If you see your loved one has bedsores, wounds, or other symptoms suggesting abuse or neglect, take pictures. Preserving the evidence of wrongdoing can be essential. If you have questions we are here for you. We can offer guidance to see that justice is served.
Those of senior age are more likely to be abused or taken advantage of because of they are frail and sometimes forgetful. Senior residents who have limited physical strength, impaired communication or memory function, may be the target of abuse simply because they are unable to defend themselves, speak up, or recall what happened in the days after the incident. Many situations of mistreatment go unreported, because residents are terrified to say something out of fear that they will suffer from even worsened abuse.
If your family member is withdrawn, refuses to speak to you, and cannot explain certain physical marks, please call us and talk with a Trenton, NJ nursing home abuse lawyer today.
Unfortunately, some family members may shrug off their relative’s stories of abuse or mistreatment as if they are made up. We encourage you to ask your loved one more questions and find out if there is truth to the incident. If your relative has confided in you about how they are suffering, chances are it was not a single incident which led to him or her talking about it. In many cases, the elderly resident may have endured frequent abuse and has finally reached his or her breaking point.
Nursing home abuse can be a serious problem and one that is difficult to handle. Oftentimes, a friend or family member needs to intervene on behalf of an elderly person. It can be difficult to get the facts in certain cases, which is why consulting with a nursing home abuse lawyer in Trenton, NJ, could be a sensible course of action. At Davis & Brusca Trial Lawyers, we have the experience to help victims get to the bottom of a case.
If you suspect nursing home abuse, it can be helpful to consult with an attorney who has experience in this field. The law team can assist you in taking your next steps. In some cases, it could be as simple as speaking with the administrators of the facility and making them aware of an issue. However, if damages or injuries have occurred, a lawyer can help your loved one receive compensation.
Situations of nursing home malfeasance often contain emotionally charged factors. This can impact your objectivity, so it is always important to look at things clearly. A nursing home abuse lawyer in Trenton, NJ, will consider the facts and if necessary investigate the situation or event. This can provide more details and get to the heart of the nursing facility’s culpability.
If you are a primary caregiver, it is important to learn about the different types of abuse. These include such things as physical and sexual abuse, emotional abuse and even a sub-standard level of care. Education can help you identify potential cases of abuse earlier, allowing you to put a quick end to a situation that could result in pain and suffering.
Nursing home abuse often comes with signs that something is not right. A nursing home abuse lawyer in Trenton, NJ, will be familiar with these signs, which can include physical marks such as bruises as well as changes in a person’s emotional state. If you see any disturbing signs during a visit, you should pay close attention and speak with the facility. If you do not receive satisfactory answers, our team at Davis & Brusca Trial Lawyers can advise you on additional steps to take.
If you suspect nursing home abuse or negligence, quick action can limit the consequences of abuse. Ignoring the situation or hesitating too long to take action can result in additional harm.
A senior nursing home resident may exhibit physical and/or emotional signs that suggest something is wrong. He or she may have explained broken bones, sprains, bruising, scars, welts, marks evidencing physical restraints, broken glasses, and more. When emotional abuse may be occurring, a senior relative may start having unusual outbursts, rocking behaviors, depression and a sense of always being on guard. If anything in this list sounds familiar, we highly recommend you seek a second opinion from a legal professional about what you are witnessing immediately and that you speak with a lawyer about the options available.
Nursing home abuse is a very real concern, even in Trenton, NJ. As a nursing home abuse lawyer NJ residents trust from Davis & Brusca, LLC can tell you, it’s often difficult to detect signs of abuse in these environments. There are several situations of which you should be aware. Pursue investigate further if you notice any of the following:
If any of the above items are occurring at the nursing home where your loved one is a resident, report the situation immediately to local police in Trenton, NJ. It’s estimated that more than 25% of elderly abuse cases are not reported. Information supplied to state and local authorities is important evidence, especially if it was collected as soon as the infraction was discovered.
In some cases, nursing homes will try to cover up their wrongdoings and contact local authorities to let them know they do not need to conduct an investigation. Even more alarming is the fact that studies suggest 3/4 of the abuse occurs at the hands of the caregivers the family has trusted to look out for the needs of their mom, dad or other beloved family member.
When senior relatives reach an age where they are no longer able to take care of themselves, even the most dedicated family members may need to consider placing him or her into a nursing home or other such facility. Caregivers at these facilities can provide a level of care which the family cannot deliver. Family members generally put their aging relative into a nursing home in good faith, expecting they will be better off there than at home. Tragically, they may come to realize the environment does not live up to expectations or the promises the family was given at the time of admission. Nursing home residents may experience emotional, physical and/or financial abuse during their stay. Families facing these circumstances justifiably feel mislead, and usually are left to wonder whether more is happening behind the scenes.
Those who believe their elderly relative may be suffering from some type of abuse while in a nursing home, can turn to an nursing home abuse in lawyer Trenton, New Jersey at Davis & Brusca, LLC for help. Our lawyers have been offering legal assistance to seniors and their families for decades. We do not take incidents of abuse lightly, and will do everything we can to see that your family member receives compensation for the misconduct and abuse they have endured.
Nursing home workers who are ill-suited for their jobs are easily frustrated by residents who are not cooperative. They may fail to realize that dementia and other conditions over which the resident has no control may be the reason for the lack of cooperation. Nurses, aids and other workers who are not properly trained or who have a poor moral compass may lash our verbally and deliver serious emotional abuse to a senior resident. Often, the person delivering this abuse sees it as a way to control the resident while instilling fear so he or she is less likely to speak up. Emotional abuse can include intimidation, mean remarks, yelling, talking down to, or threatening the resident in some way.
Unexplained marks, bruises, broken bones, cuts and other physical wounds may be a red flag that your loved one is experiencing physical abuse in the nursing home. Nurses and other caregivers are obligated to document anything which materially impacts a patient. A physical wound that is obvious but has yet to be written down or treated by staff, is a cause for concern. Furthermore Bedsores are not “normal”. They generally signal that the facility’s staff is negligent and is not repositioning the resident properly or with enough frequency. Bedsores are very serious, and can lead to infection or even a life-threatening situation for the elderly resident.
Senior residents that are suffering from dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, or other cognitive ailments, may be taken advantage of by caregivers employed by the facility. These residents may have trouble remembering important details, including when it comes to their finances. Caregivers may somehow get access to your loved one’s bank accounts and either transfer funds or buy tangible items. A nursing home abuse lawyer in Trenton, NJ at Davis & Brusca, LLC is likely to recommend that you keep a strict eye on your loved one’s bank account usage. If you see subscriptions, purchases he or she could not have made in-person, or peculiar withdrawals, it may be time to prepare for a lawsuit.
We are available to meet with you to talk more about this very sensitive topic. We can imagine it is painful to imagine your loved one being abused at the nursing home. With some guidance from an nursing home abuse lawyer in Trenton, NJ at Davis & Brusca, LLC, we can help make things right.
Nursing home abuse is a bigger problem than many think. Part of the reason it continues to flourish is that certain misconceptions persist. When attorneys such as those at Davis & Brusca Trial Lawyers sue nursing homes over mistreatment, it helps keep the matter in check. Sadly, some are reluctant to file a suit because they believe what’s happening does not rise to the level of legal action. Here are some misunderstandings that are currently discouraging nursing home lawsuits.
Businesses that care for older family members get the majority of media coverage. When abuses occur in these settings, the outrage is vast. However, elder abuse most commonly happens in private residences. The harm is just as severe and equally merits compensation. All victims in the Garden State deserve a nursing home abuse lawyer in Trenton, NJ, as abuse is wrong no matter the setting.
People often think visually. For some, abuse cannot be happening if there are no distinguishable injuries. It’s obvious someone is being hurt when broken bones and bruises are apparent. However, patient mistreatment doesn’t have to leave physical proof. A caregiver could violate a patient’s rights by withholding food or refusing to let that person bathe. Verbal insults and financial exploitation are other examples of harm. The attorneys at Davis & Brusca Trial Lawyers know what’s required to win a lawsuit concerning any of these issues, not just those made stronger by photographs.
Those who work in nursing care will tell you the assignment can be stressful. That said, there’s no set of circumstances that makes the mistreatment of our most vulnerable citizens acceptable. There are many difficult jobs. None of them allow for negligence or unethical behavior since they are so challenging. Nursing care is no different. File a lawsuit with a nursing home abuse lawyer in Trenton, NJ, and put an end to any violation.
We may not think of elder abuse as a severe crime, but it’s a serious matter. Elder abuse violations trigger millions of premature deaths, making it one of the nation’s most overlooked public health hazards. The emotional and spiritual impact is incalculable. Nonetheless, it continues because so many are reluctant to file charges. Do your part to curb this menace by hiring a nursing home abuse lawyer in Trenton, NJ. The legal action you take today could spare someone from suffering tomorrow.
If your loved one has to go to a nursing home, you expect him or her to be protected. Therefore, it can be devastating if you hear that your loved one might be the victim of nursing home abuse. In this situation, you must make sure you reach out to a nursing home abuse lawyer in Trenton, NJ, such as a lawyer from Davis & Brusca Trial Lawyers. There are multiple types of nursing home abuse. What are a few examples?
One of the most common types of nursing home abuse is physical abuse. There are plenty of examples of physical abuse in nursing homes. For example, someone may hit your loved one, leading to bruises. Someone may even cut your loved one, leading to a serious laceration. It is even possible that someone may burn your loved one intentionally, which can lead to devastating injuries. Make sure your loved one gets medical care as quickly as possible.
Sadly, sexual abuse can also happen in nursing homes. The most important thing you should do in this situation is the leave your loved one if he or she tells you that he or she is a victim of sexual abuse. Then, make sure you remove your loved one from that situation. After seeking medical care and counseling, reach out to a nursing home abuse lawyer in Trenton, NJ
Financial abuse can also take place in a nursing home. Because nursing home residents might not be mentally as sharp as they once were, they are vulnerable to financial abuse. Therefore, you may want to keep an eye on your finances. If you find there are fraudulent checks being written, you need to put a stop to this as quickly as possible. Then, you should reach out to a lawyer who can help you prove your case. Financial abuse is more common than many people think.
There are multiple types of nursing home abuse. Even though you may know your loved one is the victim of nursing home abuse, proving it can be a totally different situation. Even if you think the facts are on your side, you need to trust a nursing home abuse lawyer in Trenton, NJ, such as an attorney for Davis & Brusca Trial Lawyers, who can make sure the rights of your loved one are protected.
When looking for a top nursing home neglect and abuse attorney, Trenton, NJ turns to the lawyers at Davis & Brusca. Why? Because we are committed to holding nursing home companies accountable when they abuse and neglect the elderly. Our attorneys have long focused on this specialized area, and we have a national reputation for doing this work. We teach other attorneys to prosecute these claims.
Understanding why the neglect and abuse occurs is important. The vast majority of injuries occur when facilities go understaffed. Because of understaffing, workers cannot supervise and care for the residents they are responsible for. As a result, terrible, life altering, and life ending injuries occur. Most of the injuries we see from neglect are death, bed sores, fractures, brain injuries, malnutrition and dehydration, and sicknesses that go undiagnosed until it is too late.
It is a well-known fact that understaffing is a significant root-cause of these injuries. Medicare and Medicaid (a/k/a “CMS”) is the government entity which pays for most nursing homes in the country. CMS specifically tracks staffing levels. The government has done extensive studies on staffing levels and has specifically found that “There is considerable evidence of a relationship between nursing home staffing levels and resident outcomes.” Further, the government’s studies have found “a clear association between nurse staffing ratios and nursing home quality of care, identifying specific ratios of staff to residents below which residents are at substantially higher risk of quality problems.”
Nursing home companies know this, but the greatest cost over which they have real control is their staffing. So, when a nursing home company is looking to boost its profits, it is easy for them to cut back on staff. This one area guarantees they will save money. Unfortunately, this generally comes at the cost of safety and quality care. And it is the residents who pay the price!
The lawyers at Davis & Brusca concentrate on Nursing Home Neglect & Abuse claims. And, the two most common injuries we see that are a result of neglect due to understaffing are falls and bed sores. In the setting of an understaffed facility, falls generally occur because residents who require increased levels of supervision for safety cannot are neglected. There simply aren’t enough staff members to supervise the residents in the facility. Bed alarms may not be used despite being ordered, as the staff don’t want to be hearing them sounding constantly when they cannot hope to respond. Even in cases where there are alarms to notify the staff when an at-risk resident has gotten up and is walking, they cannot get to them in time. Similarly, bed sores often develop in understaffed facilities because there are not enough people to keep the residents clean and dry or to insure they are moved and repositioned people in bed every two hours. People are left to sit for extended periods of time and endure the pain of holes forming in their skin, or to sit for extended periods in linens or adult diapers soiled by urine and feces. The vast majority of both falls and bed sores are preventable with proper staffing.
Davis & Brusca has the skilled nursing home neglect and abuse attorneys Trenton, NJ trusts. We understand how to uncover the truth behind the problems. It is typically not about individual nurses or CNAs, but about a corporation making staffing decisions knowing that there will be injuries.
Our clients have peace of mind, and know they have experienced advocates with a well-deserved national reputation fighting for them. If you are in a position where your loved one has been injured or killed in a nursing home, rehab, assisted living facility, or group home, call us today. Put our experience and expertise to work for you.
If you suspect your loved one is the victim of any of the above abuses and if the nursing home is not addressing your concerns, you may also want to contact a nursing home abuse lawyer at Davis & Brusca, LLC. Our attorneys have extensive experience in litigation concerning nursing home conditions and quality of care.
If you feel nothing is being done after you have expressed your concerns, you need someone who will work proactively on behalf of your loved one. At Davis & Brusca, LLC, we listen to each of our clients. We work to address abuse complaints,. And we strive to advocate for Trenton, NJ residents when their voices are not being heard.
To schedule a free, no-obligation consultation today with a nursing home abuse lawyer Trenton, NJ families trust, contact our office.