Choosing to relocate your loved one to a nursing home is often an incredibly difficult decision that is made after a lot of thought and deliberation. You may have considered your loved one’s needs and determined that a skilled nursing facility could provide better care for them at this stage in their life.
But what can you do if the facility you trusted to care for your family member hurt them instead? If you believe your loved one has suffered harm or neglect in a residential care community, a compassionate Inverness nursing home abuse lawyer could meet with you to discuss your family’s legal options. Reach out to our team of dedicated personal injury attorneys today to learn more.
Signs of Nursing Home Abuse
Unfortunately, it is not always easy to tell when a nursing home resident is a victim of abuse. Some people are ashamed of being unable to defend themselves, so they might refuse to speak about what has happened to them. Other residents are unable to talk about what they have endured due to cognitive or speech impairments. Sadly, some individuals might not even be aware of what has happened, as is often the case with financial abuse.
In most circumstances, the family members and friends of residents need to rely on their intuition. If they suspect abuse or neglect, they should watch carefully for certain physical signs, including:
- Sudden weight loss
- Unexplained bruising
- Poor personal hygiene
- Bedsores
- Dehydration
- Broken bones
- Repeat infections or illness
- Evidence of excessive or unnecessary restraints
Some of these injuries might indicate intentional physical abuse, while others could be evidence of neglect. Family members should also be on alert for changes in behavior, personality, or mood, such as mood swings, fear of certain people or areas, and signs of depression or withdrawal from daily activities. Sudden financial changes are also worrisome signs, such as an unexplained disappearance of money or personal items. Additionally, if the nursing home refuses to allow unaccompanied visitors, that could also indicate trouble.
A caring Inverness attorney could investigate a family’s allegation of nursing home neglect or abuse to determine precisely what happened and who is at fault to pursue a claim against the negligent or abusive staff member. They might also be able to seek damages from the institution for having faulty hiring practices, poor training policies, and a bad management system.
Possible Recoverable Damages in a Nursing Home Abuse Case
When a skilled nursing facility’s actions or inactions cause injuries to one of its residents, the injured party and their family could pursue compensation for the resident’s physical, emotional, and financial losses. Depending on the extent and permanency of the resident’s injuries, this could include reimbursement for their past and anticipated future medical expenses.
Families and residents could also seek payment for non-economic damage, including reduced quality of life, disabilities, past and future pain and suffering, mental anguish, and emotional distress. A hard-working attorney could help an Inverness nursing home resident evaluate their losses and pursue a claim that fairly and fully covers them.
Speak to an Inverness Nursing Home Abuse Attorney
Nursing homes should treat their residents with dignity. Watching your beloved family member suffer abuse at the hands of a caretaker whom you trusted is terrible. An Inverness nursing home abuse lawyer could help you make things better by helping your family fight for justice.
Let our experienced legal professionals handle the legal details while you focus on helping your loved one heal. Speak to our team today about scheduling a consultation to get started.
