PA Nursing Home Neglect Lawyer

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Protecting Your Loved Ones: Addressing Nursing Home Neglect in Pennsylvania

Nursing Home Neglect Lawyer PA with a nurse comforting an elderly woman

When entrusting a nursing home with the care of a loved one, families expect compassionate care, a strong sense of community, and access to quality medical attention. These facilities promise a safe haven, equipped with amenities and a healthcare staff dedicated to residents’ well-being. However, the stark reality often falls short of these expectations. In the United States, alarming statistics reveal that over 5 million elderly residents suffer abuse each year, a figure that likely underrepresents the issue due to underreporting.

Recognizing the gravity of this issue, it’s crucial for families to understand their rights and the recourse available. Davis & Brusca, LLC, a trusted PA nursing home neglect lawyer, stands ready to assist those affected by nursing home abuse and neglect, ensuring victims receive the legal support they need.

If you believe that your loved one is a victim of nursing home abuse, you should contact a trusted and experienced PA nursing home neglect lawyer like  Davis & Brusca, LLC right away so that you can receive legal help. 

Understanding the Scope of Nursing Home Neglect

Nursing home neglect, a form of elder abuse, encompasses a range of issues from physical harm to emotional distress, stemming from inadequate care. Contributing factors include:

  • Understaffing: A prevalent issue, understaffing leads to inadequate care, as overwhelmed staff cannot meet all residents’ needs, increasing the risk of accidents and neglect.
  • Inadequate Training: Staff lacking proper training may miss critical signs of distress or fail to provide the necessary level of care, resulting in neglect.
  • Poor Management: Facilities poorly managed may not enforce the standards of care required, allowing neglect to occur unchecked.

Recognizing the signs of abuse and neglect is the first step in advocating for your loved one. Warning signs include unexplained injuries, sudden mood changes, signs of restraint, poor hygiene, and financial discrepancies.

Identify The Signs

One of the first steps in preventing abuse is to research prospective nursing homes. Visiting the nursing homes in person, meeting staff, and asking questions of the administration is critical to making a smart choice and selecting a good nursing home.  But, in the end, no amount of research can guarantee good care.  Even if the family has done everything possible to find care for their loved one, it’s still possible for neglect and abuse to occur. As such, it is critical that the family visit frequently and be able to recognize signs of abuse.  These are varied and may include:

  • Mood Changes
  • Unexplained Injuries
  • Signs of Restraint
  • Bed Sores
  • Lack of Hygiene
  • Torn or Soiled Clothing and Bedding
  • Unexplained Financial Transactions

If any of these signs are observed, taking action as quickly as possible is crucial. Start by addressing potential problems with nursing home staff and administration. If there is no response, the next step should be to search for alternative care options. While problems may be rectified, it’s essential to remember that if your aging loved one has been injured or is in imminent danger, it might be necessary to ensure they receive immediate medical care and are removed immediately from the facility they are living in. 

Taking Action Against Nursing Home Neglect

If you suspect neglect, immediate action is essential. Documenting evidence, speaking with facility staff, and reporting concerns to state authorities are critical steps. However, when these measures fail to resolve the issue, legal intervention becomes necessary.

Every resident in a nursing home should be made to feel safe and secure, but unfortunately, there are many cases of nursing home abuse, as the skilled PA nursing home neglect lawyers at Davis & Brusca know all too well. Finding out that your loved one is a nursing home abuse victim is not easy. It is a difficult and painful thing to discover, and as the victim’s loved one may be at a loss of how to deal with the information. Nursing home residents who experience abuse and neglect can be entitled to recover compensation for what they have gone through, and they should know their rights. If you think that your loved one has been a victim of abuse, It’s important that you know and take the right steps.

  • Talk to Your Loved One

Your loved one who is the victim of abuse or neglect may have the most information to provide you. If they have the mental capacity to recall and communicate, try to talk to them about what they have specifically experienced or seen in the nursing home. They may be reluctant to talk at first but write down whatever information that they can share with you. 

  • Gather Evidence

Evidence is crucial if you suspect nursing home abuse. As a PA nursing home neglect lawyer like one from Davis & Brusca, LLC can tell you, common evidence provided for nursing home abuse include video recordings and critical gaps in medical reports. Direct family and powers of attorney are frequently entitled to copies of the medical chart upon request.  You may also be entitled to see the facility’s policies and procedures, and to review their staffing data.  This kind of proof can prove invaluable and the more you can gather, the stronger your case may be.  Often, records gathered by family prove critical as facilities may alter charts once a lawyer gets involved. 

  • Take Photos

Unexplained injuries are all too common and often indicate neglect of patients. For instance, bedsores may indicate that a patient is not being regularly repositioned in their bed. A patient must be moved periodically because they can suffer pressure sores or bedsores. Take many photos of injuries that your loved one has on their body, such as bedsores, bruises, scars and cuts. Photographs are especially important if your loved one has injuries on parts of the body that are usually covered by clothing, as our PA nursing home neglect lawyers can explain. 

  • File a Complaint with the State

You can contact your state’s Department of Health if you believe that your loved one’s nursing home is not providing sufficient care. Frequently, this is done through online reporting.  Be prepared to give an account of what your loved one has experienced. Have all your records, evidence, and other requirements ready to include in the complaint. It is important that you notify them as soon as possible following incidents of neglect or abuse, to maximize the prospects that an investigation into the nursing home may be productive. Be prepared to follow up with them to find out what your next steps should be. 

PA Nursing Home Neglect Lawyer Infographic

CONTRIBUTING FACTORS OF NURSING HOME NEGLECT

The Role of a Nursing Home Neglect Lawyer

A specialized nursing home neglect lawyer can offer invaluable assistance by:

Residents’ rights, protected under both federal and state laws, include the right to dignity, quality care, and freedom from abuse. The Pennsylvania Department of Health oversees nursing home regulations, but when systemic issues persist, legal action may be the only recourse.

Choosing the Right Nursing Home: Prevention and Advocacy

To prevent neglect, thorough research and regular visits to prospective facilities are crucial. Inquire about staff-to-resident ratios, training programs, and protocols for handling abuse and neglect. Advocacy doesn’t stop with choosing the right facility; it extends to staying vigilant and involved in your loved one’s care, ensuring their rights are respected.

Standing Up for Your Loved Ones

The decision to place a loved one in a nursing home is fraught with challenges, but facing neglect should never be one of them. Davis & Brusca, LLC is committed to protecting the elderly from abuse and neglect. Our team of compassionate and experienced lawyers understands the intricacies of nursing home neglect laws in Pennsylvania and is dedicated to ensuring victims and their families receive the justice and dignity they deserve.

If you’re confronting the challenge of nursing home neglect, remember, you’re not alone. We’re here to help navigate this difficult journey, offering the legal support and guidance you need. Contact Davis & Brusca, LLC today to discuss your case and explore your legal options.

PA Nursing Home Neglect Law FAQs

What are common nursing home neglect injuries?

Discovering that your loved one may be a victim of nursing home neglect or abuse is a terrible experience, as our PA nursing home neglect lawyers know all too well. Many families rely on nursing homes and long-term care facilities to provide quality care for their aging loved ones. However, there are many cases of abuse that occur to helpless and innocent elderly patients in nursing homes. The signs of nursing home abuse and neglect are not always obvious and easy to find. 

How do bedsores develop?

If a nursing home patient is bedridden or must stay in bed for long periods of time, they need to be moved periodically, otherwise, they will develop bedsores. Also known as pressure sores, bedsores occur when the skin is under prolonged pressure, depriving it of blood supply and oxygen.  This literally causes the skin to die, resulting in an open wound. If not properly treated, or if the resident is not kept clean and dry, these wounds can worsen and become infected.  All too frequently, these infections enter the bloodstream, resulting in “sepsis”, which may be life-threatening.

Bedsores are a strong sign of neglect.  There is international medical consensus that the overwhelming majority of bedsores are avoidable.  Further, there is no single or combination of medical conditions which, standing alone, will cause a bed sore to be “unavoidable.”  The overwhelming majority of bedsores are caused by a patient not being repositioned with enough frequency throughout the day. If you notice that your loved one has bedsore, take photos of their wounds, save the photos as evidence, and contact the lawyers at Davis & Brusca. We can help. 

What are common ways bruises occur?

Bruises on the abdomen, limbs or other parts of the body are also common signs of nursing home abuse and neglect. A nursing home patient can suffer bruises if their caregiver or nurse becomes angry and strikes them. The patient may also get bruises because of a fall. Bruises on the wrists or arms can also happen if a staff member is not lifting a patient properly.

Can cuts indicate abuse or neglect?

A nursing home patient may have cuts on their hands, feet, head, or body as a result of improper care. The patient can get cut from mobility devices or other assistive tools. A staff member may come at the patient and strike them, causing a deep cut or multiple cuts. As the PA nursing home neglect lawyers at Davis & Brusca, LLC know, staff members are responsible for ensuring that patients are safe, and protected and that any wounds that they have are promptly tended to. Even minor cuts can become infected and become serious if not treated promptly.  

How do fractures develop?

Nursing home residents frequently have lower bone density and are at increased risk for fractures.  Fractures can develop in neglected nursing home patients due to falls from bed, slipping out of wheelchairs, gaps in supervision, and poor care planning. Many nursing home patients need hands-on assistance for transfers from bed or wheelchairs, or while walking to a different room and going to the bathroom. It is difficult for many elderly patients to do these tasks on their own, because of weakness, or other injuries. Even a small fall can result in a fracture because they have fragile bones. It is important to contact an experienced nursing home neglect lawyer, such as Davis & Brusca, LLC, if you suspect that your loved one has any injuries that may be signs of neglect or abuse.

It’s important that families not stand by and watch their loved ones suffer nursing home abuse. Victims and their families should take prompt action by holding the responsible parties accountable. Know that it’s possible to receive compensation for the losses experienced. To learn more about the services our nursing home neglect lawyer offers, schedule a risk-free consultation with our team at Davis & Brusca, LLC. 

PA Nursing Home Abuse Statistics

According to the National Council of Aging, approximately five million seniors are abused every year. In fact, one in 10 people in this country over the age of 60 has suffered some form of elderly abuse. Even more alarming is that only one in 24 cases of abuse are reported to authorities. In one major survey, almost 65 percent of nursing home employees admitted to abusing residents.

Davis & Brusca, LLC, PA Nursing Home Neglect Lawyer

100 Charles Ewing Blvd. Suite 150 Ewing, NJ 08628

Speak With Davis & Brusca, LLC For Help Today

It can be hard to know what to do if you think your loved one may be a victim of nursing home abuse or neglect. That is why you should contact a skilled lawyer, such as the team at Davis & Brusca,  as soon as you can so that they can immediately assist you and provide legal guidance. Our dedicated team of top lawyers knows how to navigate the nursing home system and is familiar with the laws and regulations which apply. Consult with one of our skilled and reputable PA nursing home neglect lawyers now if you are in need of legal support for a nursing home abuse case.

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