Personal Injury Lawyer

When selecting a nursing home to care for your loved one, the last thing you’d expect is to end up seeking compensation for improper care. Unfortunately, there are dozens of cases reported each year of nursing home abuse and neglect. Sadly, some of these cases even end up in death. If you don’t have a contract with the nursing home when this happens, this can make things confusing when it comes to your rights. If you or a loved one has been a victim of nursing home abuse or neglect, be sure to seek legal counsel right away.

Can You Seek Compensation Without a Contract?

Even without a contract, residents who have been harmed or abused in nursing homes (or their heirs) are able to recover damages under the protection of several laws. While the most common cause of residential injury comes from neglectful supervision, other examples can include:

• Improper training, hiring, and retention of employees
• Physical, emotional, and sexual abuse
• Falls and physical injuries due to improper care, policies, and procedures
• Poor maintenance of the property that leads to injury or death
• Medication errors, including overmedication or polypharmacy
• Abuse from other residents

The Future of Long-Term Care Facilities

With the need for elderly care increasing, there’s little being done to increase quality long-care term facilities to meet that need. The elderly population is growing without suitable nursing homes being built to accommodate them. As a result, existing nursing homes may be at risk of becoming overcrowded unless measures are taken to prevent this.

Combine that with the lack of geriatric medical professionals, and the elderly become particularly vulnerable to neglect and abuse. There are grave concerns that nursing home abuse could become even more prevalent in the future because of these factors. This makes it even more imperative that you stay vigilant when it comes to the care of your loved one. Don’t hesitate to ask questions and stay involved in the care of your family member.

Speak Up About Nursing Home Abuse

Nursing home neglect and abuse are continuing to be one of the most underreported crimes with only one in 14 cases ever being formally registered. It’s crucial that you seek legal help at the first sign of any maltreatment of yourself or your family member. Many of the deaths that happen each year could have been prevented with earlier detection and reporting. In almost every case, it’s never a bad idea to express your concerns to a nursing home abuse attorney, like a nursing home abuse attorney in Trenton, NJ. The sooner abuse is reported for nursing home malpractice, the better.

Thanks to Davis & Brusca Trial Lawyers for their insight into nursing home neglect.