New Bern Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
Selecting the right nursing home is often a significant and complicated undertaking, especially since nursing home care can be so costly. However, just because a nursing home facility is expensive or appears nice does not necessarily mean that nursing home abuse or neglect never happens there. Unfortunately, nursing home abuse occurs in every type of setting, and some nursing homes will cut corners to maximize their bottom line at the expense of residents. If you believe your loved one is suffering abuse or neglect at the hands of their nursing home staff, an experienced New Bern nursing home abuse lawyer could help gather the facts about their care and determine whether a personal injury claim against the nursing home is appropriate. Read on to learn more about how an experienced injury attorney could offer you their assistance today.
Nursing Home Abuse Statistics
There are several different types of nursing home abuse, some easier to discern than others. Nursing home abuse can be physical, verbal, mental, emotional, or sexual, and can even take the form of financial exploitation. The numbers show just how stark this problem has become, as several different research studies conducted on abuse and neglect claims in nursing home facilities across the country have shown.
For every case of nursing home abuse and neglect that occurs, it is estimated that there may be as many as five other unreported cases. After all, most abusers have abused other individuals in the past, and will often go on to abuse more in the future unless they are stopped. Nursing home residents in one survey volunteered that more than 40% of them have personally experienced some form of nursing home abuse or neglect, and almost all of the nursing home residents surveyed had seen another patient abused or neglected, with neglect being the most common scenario.
Common Signs and Symptoms of Neglect
Some of the most common signs of nursing home abuse and neglect are readily apparent, such as bruises and bedsores. Others may be less obvious, such as depression, anxiety, and fear of certain facility staff members. While not all questionable symptoms mean abuse happened, an experienced New Bern nursing home lawyer could investigate all potential elements of abuse or neglect and make an informed determination of what preventative action should be taken, if any.
Reporting Abuse
Nursing home residents with dementia and other problems may not understand that they have experienced abuse or neglect, and due to their mental condition, they may not be believed even if they do report the abuse. Unfortunately, this means some legitimate instances of nursing home abuse are not taken seriously. For this reason, it is important to take reports of abuse or neglect seriously, even if your loved one is experiencing confusion or mental decline. A skilled New Bern nursing home abuse lawyer could help your family figure out the next steps in protecting your aging relative, starting by investigating whether abuse occurred.
How a New Bern Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Could Help
Even if you are not sure whether your loved one has actually been abused, it is often a good idea to work with an experienced New Bern nursing home abuse lawyer who could investigate the circumstances in which your aging relative is living. Your attorney could get the ball rolling in determining whether your loved one’s living situation is safe, and determine what steps to take to seek accountability for the nursing home’s bad conduct. Set up a consultation and get started on your case today.
