Gaithersburg Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect Attorney

Abuse does not only include physical injuries. Residents from elder care institutions could fall victim of the following types of abuse:

Physical

All kinds of physical attacks qualify as physical abuse. Kicking, pushing, hitting, or causing injuries with objects or substances such as hot or icy water.  

Emotional

Some actions such as isolating, yelling at, ignoring, or taunting residents can cause emotional harm. It can cause anxiety, depression, or exacerbate preexisting mental diseases. 

Sexual

Many of the residents from nursing homes have mobility or mental problems. Other residents or staff could utilize this to commit sexual battery. Any unwanted sexual activity is considered sexual abuse. 

Financial 

Some greedy health care workers steal or swindle residents, taking advantage of residents’ decreased independence and situational awareness.

What Can Be Considered Neglect?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), neglect is the failure to meet an older adult’s basic needs. These include water, food, hygiene, clothing, and medical care (among others). If your loved one suffers abuse or neglect, you could pursue legal compensation. Many issues in nursing homes could qualify as negligence. Neglect occurs in the following formats:

Medical

This might involve a staff member providing the wrong doses of medication (or lack thereof), improper care for diseases, or failure to inform your loved one about their condition.  

Psychological or Emotional

This happens when nursing home staff isolates the resident by preventing them from having proper and healthy social interactions. Perpetrators accomplish this by failing to care for patients who cannot move around on their own. The staff member might yell at, belittle, or insult the resident.

Neglect of Basic Living Needs

This means not maintaining the residence in optimal conditions of temperature, cleanliness, and good condition of food supplies. The staff member might not bathe the resident or brush their hair. Not maintaining the residents’ clothing and bedding clean properly could trigger multiple health problems, like infection or bedsores.

When Is the Right Time to File a Lawsuit for Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect? 

The statute of limitations varies in every state and changes with the type of case. 

Hence the importance of having legal assistance from a nursing home abuse and neglect lawyer. A legal professional serving Gaithersburg can help you understand and overcome all the stumbling blocks of a legal process. 

What Should I Consider When Filing a Nursing Home Abuse Lawsuit?

There are national and state laws that seek to grant high-quality care to residents of nursing homes. These include the Elder Justice Act, the Older Americans Act, the Violence Against Women Act, and the No Fear Act are the four most essential laws to consider. 

If your loved one is subject to nursing home abuse and neglect, you must prove the following facts:

If you can’t prove the below facts, your claim will be at risk of being dismissed, and your loved one wouldn’t obtain compensation for their pain and suffering. A nursing home abuse and neglect attorney can help you navigate the entire legal process and to file a lawsuit that will result in redress for your family.

Contact Brown & Barron online today to schedule a free case review with a with a nursing home abuse lawyer serving Gaithersburg.