What Is Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse?

Nursing home neglect and abuse encompass a range of harmful behaviors and omissions that compromise the well-being of elderly residents in long-term care facilities. If you or an elderly loved one were harmed, seek immediate legal guidance.

Nursing Home Neglect

This refers to the failure of a long-term care facility to provide adequate and necessary care to its residents, resulting in injuries. Neglect often stems from understaffing, inadequate training, or a disregard for the needs of residents.

Negligence in a nursing home can manifest in various ways, including:

  • Insufficient medical attention
  • Hygiene neglect
  • Inadequate nutrition
  • Lack of assistance with daily activities

Nursing Home Abuse

On the other hand, abuse in nursing homes involves intentional actions that cause harm, whether it be physical, emotional, or financial. Nursing home abuse represents a betrayal of the duty of care owed to residents, often resulting from the actions of staff members.

Abuse in a nursing home can take the form of:

  • Physical violence
  • Verbal threats
  • Financial exploitation
  • Sexual abuse
  • Emotional abuse
  • Psychological abuse
  • Isolation
  • Medication abuse

Our legal team has legal professionals who focus on different practice areas so that we can provide comprehensive guidance. For example, our sexual abuse lawyers in Valley Grande are well-versed in the laws surrounding sexual misconduct in nursing homes. They offer compassionate legal help and empower victims to seek justice.

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Recoverable Damages in a Nursing Home Abuse Case

Damages encompass the physical, emotional, and financial harm inflicted upon the victim due to the abuse or neglect. These adverse consequences can profoundly affect the victim’s quality of life and overall well-being.

A nursing home abuse lawyer from our team will calculate these losses and evaluate any future expenses. We will make sure that no detail is overlooked and that we file a comprehensive case.

Medical Expenses

When elderly residents suffer harm due to abuse or neglect, they often require extensive medical attention, including emergency care, surgeries, rehabilitation, and ongoing treatments. These medical expenses can accumulate rapidly, placing a significant financial burden on the victim and their family.

Common types of injuries in victims of nursing home abuse or neglect include:

Injuries are the most conspicuous indicators of mistreatment, serving as tangible evidence of the harm suffered by residents. Visible signs such as bruises, fractures, and bedsores often raise immediate red flags. However, it is crucial to recognize that the absence of visible injuries does not negate the possibility of abuse or neglect.

Instances of psychological trauma or neglect-related conditions like malnutrition and dehydration may not manifest in overt physical signs. Subtle indicators such as behavioral changes, withdrawal, or unexplained weight loss can also signal mistreatment.

Pain and Suffering

Elders subjected to mistreatment endure not only the tangible physical pain resulting from injuries but also the intangible psychological suffering. Pain and suffering damages acknowledge and compensate for the profound negative impact on the victim’s overall well-being.

Reviewing medical records and reports detailing injuries, treatments, and the impact on the victim’s health provides crucial evidence. Medical professionals may provide expert testimony on the correlation between the injuries and the emotional distress.

Statements from witnesses, including other residents or family members, can corroborate the victim’s experience and provide additional perspectives on pain and suffering.

Emotional Distress

Elderly residents subjected to abuse or neglect often endure emotional anguish, fear, and psychological trauma that can have lasting effects on their mental well-being. Emotional distress damages compensate victims for the profound emotional toll endured. Signs of emotional distress may manifest as anxiety, depression, withdrawal, or changes in behavior.

Damages for Spinal Cord Injury

Such injuries often occur due to incidents like falls, physical assaults, or inadequate supervision and care. A spinal cord injury not only poses immediate physical challenges but can also lead to long-term complications, including paralysis and a significant reduction in the individual’s overall quality of life.

The consequences extend beyond the physical realm, encompassing emotional distress, financial burdens related to medical treatments, and the need for ongoing care.

Damages for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

A TBI may occur due to falls, physical assaults, or inadequate care, and they can have severe and lasting consequences. The injury not only impacts the victim’s health but can also lead to cognitive impairment, memory loss, and changes in behavior.

If a nursing home resident suffered a severe injury, like a traumatic brain injury, there may be grounds for a lawsuit. Our catastrophic injury lawyers in Valley Grande will review the circumstances of the incident that led to the injury to determine if negligence played a role.

Wrongful Death Damages

In the tragic context of nursing home abuse leading to wrongful death, surviving family members could claim damages. Unlike in other states, where compensatory damages are awarded to compensate for the losses suffered by the decedent’s family members, Alabama awards only punitive damages.

These types of damages punish the defendant and discourage others from engaging in similar dangerous activities. If you are not sure whether you have a valid claim, consult our Valley Grande wrongful death lawyers for a free consultation.

Alabama’s Statute of Limitations for a Personal Injury Lawsuit

The statute of limitations determines how much time the plaintiff has to take legal action against the defendant. In Alabama, most personal injury lawsuits, including those involving nursing home abuse or neglect, must be filed within two years.

Failing to file within this designated period may result in the court dismissing the case. To pursue justice, consult an attorney as soon as possible after discovering instances of abuse or neglect in nursing homes in Alabama.

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Call Our Valley Grande Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers Today

If you or a loved one were the victim of abuse or neglect in a nursing home, seek immediate legal representation. At Heninger Garrison Davis, we offer compassionate legal representation to injured victims and their families.

Contact us today to share the details of your case. We will review your options to take legal action.

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