Elderly abuse affects 10% of Americans over the age of 60. A number of these cases occur in nursing homes.
Putting your loved one in a nursing home is a big decision that requires an immense amount of trust. The reason you do it is to give them a higher quality of life as they experience the trials and tribulations of aging. Unfortunately, there are bad actors out there that do just the opposite.
If your loved one is complaining of nursing home abuse or negligence, it might be time to hire an elderly abuse lawyer. Today, we’re going to give you a short guide on elderly abuse and when to take legal action. At the end of the day, you have to protect your loved one, so keep reading and stop elderly abuse in its tracks.
Nursing Home Abuse Explained
Elderly abuse can come in many forms. It’s not just physical abuse from a nursing home worker to an elderly patient, although this can happen. It involves nursing home negligence that has a direct impact on your loved one’s well-being.
When you pay to keep an elderly loved one in a nursing home, there’s a duty to care there. They’re obligated to provide a level of service that is satisfactory to your loved one, so when that’s not happening – to the point that your loved one is suffering as a result – that can be considered abuse.
It could come in the form of neglect or abandonment, which might be leaving rooms in poor condition or serving expired food. It could also come in the form of emotional abuse – yelling at or teasing residents. Physical or sexual abuse is self-explanatory.
When to Hire an Elderly Abuse Lawyer
As soon as your loved one brings up abuse that they’ve been experiencing, you should take it seriously. You have no reason not to trust your loved one, so the first step is to attempt to find evidence to support their claims.
If they’re experiencing physical abuse, look for bruises and cuts. If they’re experiencing neglect, pay a visit to the facility and try to find clear signs of neglect. When you can easily validate your loved one’s claims, it makes the whole process easier to handle.
You need a lawyer who has experience with nursing home abuse. They’ll understand exactly how to collect evidence and navigate the process so that you and your loved one are compensated for this unfortunate situation.
Finding the Right Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
With a good lawyer on your side, you can get your loved one out of this abusive nursing home and make them pay for their actions. At WestLoop Law, we’ve seen a worrying number of these cases come across our desk in the Houston area.
As your elderly abuse lawyer, we’ll conduct investigations, retrieve evidence, and secure witness testimonies, then file a personal injury claim and represent your loved one in court if need be. We won’t stop until you’re compensated for this heinous abuse toward your loved one.
To talk about your loved one’s claims and get a case review, don’t hesitate to contact us ASAP.