Physical Abuse of the Elderly

Physical abuse can take on many different forms, including but not limited to:

Biting Shoving Slapping Aggressively Shaking Kicking Punching Pushing Jerking Restraining Sexually Harassing
Depending on the severity of the abuse, your loved one may suffer serious injuries that could cause permanent damage. Besides the physical signs of abuse, you should also pay attention to your loved one’s behavior. Often, victims tend to refuse to speak or take their medication. They may also isolate themselves and have frequent outbursts that you have never witnessed before. These are all signs physical abuse, so when you spot any of them, do your part to protect your loved one.

Making the decision to put your loved one in a nursing home is never easy, so when you do make this call, it’s heartbreaking to find out your loved one has suffered as a result. Luckily, the law protects your loved one from having to suffer in silence. Any member of the nursing home staff that is found guilty of abusing your loved one could face criminal charges that carry jail time and fines. If the abuse occurred as a result of the nursing home’s negligence, you may also be entitled to file a civil suit against the nursing home to recover compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering and more.

Discuss your legal options with a personal injury attorney as soon as you see signs of abuse including bruises, cuts, bedsores, broken bones, or frequent infections. Our attorneys can help you understand your loved one’s rights under both federal and state laws.

Nursing Home Laws

There are both federal and state laws that regulate how nursing homes should operate and how their residents should be treated. Each nursing home is responsible for providing a safe environment for their residents. This includes preventing hazardous conditions that could cause slip and falls, and hiring a competent staff to care for the residents. Nursing homes must also report every injury that occurs on their premises. In the report, the administrator must include information on how the accident occurred and the extent of the injuries. If a nursing home fails to provide this information in a timely manner, it is negligence.

Protect Your Loved Ones’ Rights

Finding out your loved one is a victim of physical abuse at his or her nursing home is never easy. Families may not be sure how to protect their loved ones, who they thought were being cared for by a staff of professionals. But, families should never have to go through this terrible tragedy alone.

The moment you spot signs of physical abuse, contact a personal injury attorney to discuss your case in more detail. Our team of attorneys has experience defending victims of nursing home abuse, and although it is never easy, it is worth it to help you seek justice for your loved ones. Contact Shegerian Conniff to schedule your free legal consultation today.