Baltimore Abuse by Nursing Home Residents Attorney

While a significant amount of abuse by other residents is verbal, there are many cases where physical abuse—such as hitting, kicking, scratching, biting, and throwing objects—is evident. Furthermore, sexual assault is also a common problem, since some residents make unwanted sexual advances toward fellow residents or expose themselves.

According to a study published in the Journal of Applied Gerontology, residents with dementia were five times more likely to physically abuse other residents. In addition, residents with severe mental illness were three times more likely to inflict abuse.

Common characteristics of nursing homes that experience resident-on-resident violence include:

• Overcrowding
• Understaffing
• Lack of enforcement by nursing home staff

Nursing home staff must periodically evaluate the psychological health of their residents in order to screen for the likelihood of resident-on-resident abuse. When an incident occurs, staff are required to notify the family members.

However, sometimes facilities will attempt to cover up these incidents by failing to report them. Furthermore, residents may be too afraid to report their peers.

Get in touch with a abuse by nursing home residents lawyer serving Baltimore, (410) 698-1717for a free case evaluation.

How to Handle Suspected Nursing Home Abuse

If you suspect that your loved one is suffering abuse due to another resident, it is important to take action to protect them. Report the abuse to the nursing home administration and make arrangements for your loved one to stay somewhere safe. After making sure your loved one is safe, you can work with a nursing home abuse lawyer. We can explore how to best approach your case. 

For example, we can file a police report and begin gathering evidence for your case. You can find out more about how to handle suspected nursing home abuse when you contact our office to discuss the details of your case.

Who to Sue for Abuse by Nursing Home Residents

When nursing home residents are abusing other nursing home residents, it can be difficult to determine who is at fault. Depending on the physical and mental capacity of the abusive nursing home resident, they could face criminal charges and be subjected to the civil lawsuit your family pursues against them. 

However, you may be surprised to learn there are other parties who could share liability for the nursing home abuse your loved one endured. Some of these parties could include:

• Nurses
• Nursing assistance
• Nursing home abuse facilitators
• The owner of the nursing home facility
• Other nursing home staff

Nursing home staff has a responsibility to monitor residents and prevent instances of abuse. You can learn more about who should be held accountable for your loved ones’ damages after your attorney has conducted a thorough investigation into your family member’s case.