When you make the decision to put a loved one in a senior care facility, such as a nursing home, you have expectations of quality care for the remainder of their lives. Unfortunately, cases of nursing home abuse are still a serious problem and something that can be devastating to you, your family, and your loved one in the care facility.
If you suspect that your loved one is a victim of nursing home abuse in Connecticut or neglect, get in touch with our legal team at Jonathan Perkins Injury Lawyers to discuss your options.
The fact is, it is always shocking to find that a loved one is the victim of abuse or neglect. It doesn’t matter if the abuse or neglect is caused by blatant physical abuse, understaffing, or improper training; it should never happen. The good news is that you do have legal options, and you can fight back to protect your loved ones who are in nursing homes.
Nursing Home Abuse Defined
Negligence is a legal term used to define someone’s failure to act or behave with proper levels of care to help prevent foreseeable harm to another person. Nursing homes can be considered negligent if it, in some way, violates the duties it has to their residents.
A nursing home’s duties to residents are multifaceted. Residents of nursing homes have several legal protections at the state and federal levels based on the Nursing Home Reform Act, the general statutes in Connecticut.
Any violation of federal or state regulations and laws that harm the residents is negligence. At Jonathan Perkins Injury Lawyers, we can review the nursing home contract to see if the facility breached the duty it had to your loved one.
Several types of neglect and abuse can be considered negligence by nursing home caregivers, staff, and the entire facility. Some of the most common examples of this include:
- Physical abuse
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- Shoving or pushing
- Choking
- Slapping
- Unnecessary physical restraints
- Punching
- Overmedicating
- Kicking
- Personal property destruction
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- Emotional and verbal abuse
- Forced isolation of the residents
- Insults
- Ignoring a resident’s needs
- Screaming or yelling
- Treats and violence
- Derogatory or abusive comments related to the resident’s appearance, race, or age
- Sexual abuse
- Sexual assault or rape
- Sexual comments that are inappropriate
- Photographing residents while nude or in an explicit position
- Forcing a resident to take their clothes off
- Unwanted touching or groping
- Financial Exploitation or Abuse
- Manipulating a resident to provide access to their bank accounts, sign over assets, or similar things
- Cashing the resident’s checks and not giving them the money
- Stealing the resident’s identity
- Stealing personal belongings or money from a resident
- Neglect
- Inadequate or improper care for illnesses or injuries
- Not providing residents with drink and food
- Not maintaining a safe and clean living environment for the residents
- Not administering the right medications to the residents
- Failing to adjust or turn residents who have mobility issues
- Not helping residents when they try to move or walk
- Not supervising residents and allowing them to wander the nursing home or the premises
- Mistakes or errors when using any type of medical equipment
Each of the situations or instances listed above may be considered grounds to file a nursing home neglect or abuse claim. Along with the wrongdoing or negligence of the individual staff members, it’s necessary for a complete investigation to be conducted by our legal team. Our goal will be to find any type of negligence that the facility is guilty of. This may include things like no supervision of employees, improper or inadequate training for staff, negligent hiring practices, understaffing, or hazardous conditions present on the property.
Getting the Help Your Senior Loved One Needs and Deserves
For most, making the decision to put a senior loved one in a nursing home or assisted care facility isn’t an easy one. Even if there is no practical way that you or your family would be able to provide the care they need, you may feel guilt for choosing this option.
Regardless of why you choose to use outside help, it’s important to understand that there are some situations that are not in your control. This is especially the case if you discover your loved one has been the victim of nursing home abuse or neglect.
Even if you are well-informed, you may not be able to imagine that neglect or abuse would occur. If you have discovered that your senior loved one is a victim of neglect or abuse, get in touch with our legal team today. We will help protect your rights and hold the liable party responsible for their actions or inactions.
Common Risk Factors for Nursing Home Abuse
It is important to note that while Connecticut nursing home neglect can happen to anyone, there are some older adults who are at higher risk of becoming a victim than others. Some of the factors that may put a person in this higher risk category include:
- Dementia
- No spouse
- No social support or isolation
- Previous traumatic events in their life
- Poor physical health
- Poverty
Even if your loved one doesn’t fit into one of these categories, it doesn’t mean they will be immune to abuse.
Contact Our Legal Team for Help with Your Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect Case
If you believe your senior loved one was a victim of nursing home abuse or neglect, get in touch with our legal team at Jonathan Perkins Injury Lawyers today. We will provide you with a free initial Connecticut nursing home abuse consultation to get to know the details of your case. After that, we can launch a full investigation to determine the at-fault party and ensure they are brought to justice.
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