Every day, millions of Americans trust nursing homes to take care of their loved ones. When you make the difficult decision to place your loved one in an assisted living facility, you expect your family members to be provided for, happy, comfortable, and receiving the medical treatment they require.
Unfortunately, nursing home facilities can be places of abuse, neglect, and exploitation. If you believe your loved one is suffering abuse at the hands of a nursing home, you should contact a Cambria County nursing home abuse lawyer. By working with a well-practiced injury attorney, you could help save the lives of older adults who are unable to speak for themselves.
Elderly residents are susceptible to abuse at nursing homes and assisted living facilities because they rely upon these entities for care. Local attorneys often handle cases of neglect, sexual abuse, and emotional abuse in assisted living facilities.
Elderly residents rely on nursing home staff to provide primary care and comfort, as well as a safe and comfortable environment. Unfortunately, when nursing homes are understaffed, residents can be neglected. Neglect could include isolation, failure to change linens, inability to identify bedsores, or failing to provide food, water, or medication.
Neglecting to meet an elderly resident’s medical needs is especially dangerous because it can lead to catastrophic injuries or death. This negligence includes distributing incorrect medication, administering improper dosage, and even overmedicating.
This is an alarming and growing concern among the elderly community, especially for those who suffer severe physical or mental limitations, such as dementia. Residents with advanced dementia may not be able to comprehend what is happening to them, and as a result, they may be unable to tell their loved ones about this threat. Signs of sexual abuse include infections from STDs and unexplained cuts or bruising.
Verbal and emotional abuse can also at nursing homes by either the staff or other residents. While this type of abuse can be difficult to spot due to a lack of evidence, some common symptoms include personality changes, mood disorders, extreme fear of other residents or staff members, and loss of interest in the things the resident used to enjoy doing.
42 P.S. § 5524 42 P.S. §5524 establishes the statute of limitations, which sets a strict time limit for filing cases, regardless of the seriousness of the claim of injury or death. In Pennsylvania, a person seeking legal compensation from a negligent party have only two years to file suit to recover compensation for his or her losses.
Failure to file a claim before the legal deadline expires could result in the case being time barred and dismissed. Due to this, it is highly important for family members of a nursing home resident to seek a seasoned attorney in Cambria County as soon as they suspect abuse because the Rules of Civil Procedure require counsel to retain expert witnesses to evaluate the case so as to ensure its validity.
Learning that your loved one was abused or neglected in the facility you trusted to care for them can be devastating. You may be unsure of what actions you can take to hold the negligent facility accountable.
After removing your loved one from the facility you should contact a Cambria County nursing home abuse lawyer at Marcus & Mack. A compassionate attorney could review your case and determine how to move forward with your claim.
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