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Nursing home abuse lawyer offers free case evaluation

Ideally, a nursing home should be a safe and comforting place to take care of an aging parent, grandparent or other loved one in need of living assistance. A nursing home’s staff should be trained and able to take special care of elderly people. But while many nursing homes provide such services, many others are guilty of abuse and negligence, and the elderly in their care spend their last years suffering, instead of enjoying a comfortable retirement.

If someone in your family has become a victim of nursing home abuse, you should immediately contact a nursing home lawyer at Jim S. Adler & Associates. The law firm offers a free case review and can determine if and how you should pursue legal compensation for such suffering.

Nursing home abuse and neglect are common

Nursing homes are a common destination for elderly and retired adults who live on fixed incomes. Sometimes the cost of living in a nursing home is paid by personal insurance.

In some unfortunate cases, nursing home staffs sometime become abusive to the people in their care – people who need extra care due to their aging and diseases. Such people can be neglected by a staff or staff member that fails to dispense medications or food, or provide adequate sanitation.

Various signs of nursing home abuse include: unexplained injuries or bruises anywhere on the skin; visible cuts without any reason; bruises; welts; over-medication or under-medication; rapid weight loss or weight gain; unsanitary living conditions; dehydration; malnutrition; bedsores; broken bones; infections; and sudden death.

It is important that you stay vigilant and keep an eye out for signs of nursing home abuse or neglect. Monitor the conditions of your loved one in a nursing home. Determine if the nursing home staff members are doing their duties well, such as whether they are giving medications in time and providing adequate and nutritious food to your loved one. If you see these signs of abuse, bed sores, broken bones or other more serious conditions, it is important that you immediately seek medical assistance from a physician and legal assistance from a nursing home attorney.

A nursing home abuse lawyer or attorney can help

A nursing home lawyer with Jim S. Adler & Associates can help. The firm’s nursing home lawyers have the skill, experience and expertise to help file a claim for the suffering your loved one has endured. The firm’s lawyers understand the law in this area and strive to dedicate their service to their clients and to understand their conditions.

The National Center on Elder Abuse in the United States regularly conducts surveys and collects data on nursing home resident abuses. An average of 30% of all nursing homes in America indulge in some form of abuse, and the numbers are increasing. Such abuses are on the rise due to recruitment of inexperienced or unable nurses or medical staff.

If you or a loved one has become a victim of nursing home abuse, contact a nursing home lawyer immediately at Jim S. Adler & Associates to explore filing a claim. Adler’s highly skilled and experienced lawyers are well versed in all types of nursing home abuses. They can pursue compensation for the suffering and pain that a resident experienced in a nursing home. Learn more at the law firm's News and Views blog, and contact an Adler nursing home lawyer today for a free case evaluation.

DISCLAIMER: Located at 3D/International Tower, 1900 West Loop South, 20th Floor, Houston, Texas 77027, Jim S. Adler & Associates is licensed to practice law in the state of Texas. Nevertheless, the law firm also works in conjunction with local counsel and outside lawyers to litigate claims in the other states, as needed, including:

Jim S. Adler & Associates also has offices at City Place Building, 2711 North Haskell Ave., Suite 2100 LB40, Dallas, Texas 75204-2887; Bank of America, 12605 East Freeway, Suite 400, Houston, Texas 77015-5619 (serving Channelview, Texas); and San Pedro Plaza, 7330 San Pedro Ave., Suite 700, San Antonio, Texas 78216-6237.

NURSING HOME ARTICLES...

Fight nursing home abuse with nursing home litigation

Nursing home abuse can be fought with nursing home litigation

America’s nursing home population is big – 1.4 million residents – and it’s getting bigger. As the large segment of the population known as Baby Boomers passes age 65, the nation’s 16,100 certified nursing homes will be hard pressed to keep up with added residents.

Why does elder abuse happen in nursing homes?

The reasons for elder abuse are as varied as any type of abuse. The underlying motivation usually has to do with power and control – the caregiver feels that he or she has lack of control over certain things, and therefore exerts power over those weaker to gain a sense of control.

Signs are many for nursing home abuse

Although the problem of elder abuse in U.S. nursing homes has long been recognized, there is not nearly enough research into incidence rates. The National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) itself admits: “No one knows precisely how many older Americans are being abused, neglected, or exploited. While evidence accumulated to date suggests that many thousands have been harmed, there are no official national statistics.” The agency suggests that there are several reasons for this, including inconsistent definitions of elder abuse between states, different ways of recording abuse, and the fact that most instances of abuse are “hidden.”

Senate learns nursing home abuse is rampant

In 2001, the Senate was presented with a report showing how widespread nursing home abuse is throughout the country. “Abuse of Residents Is a Major Problem in U.S. Nursing Homes” revealed that one in every three nursing homes were cited with at least one abuse violation during a two-year period from 1999 to 2001. The report noted that “the problem of abuse in nursing homes may be far more prevalent than the public generally recognizes.”

Nursing home abuse needs more reform

In 1986, Congress commissioned a study that found that nursing home abuse was widespread – too many nursing home residents were being abused and neglected, or otherwise not properly cared for. In response to the problem, Congress enacted the Nursing Home Reform Act (NHRA) of 1987 to improve the quality of care and outline the rights of residents living in 17,000 care facilities across the country.

Nursing home abuse has deep roots

Although everyone has heard about nursing home abuse , few understand the epidemic proportions it has grown to. One Senate investigation found that one-third of nursing homes had abuse violations in a two-year period between 1999 and 2001. This does not include the unreported incidents; some estimates are that only 1 in 10 to 1 in 14 cases are ever reported or found out. The National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) notes that one of the biggest obstacles to system-wide reform is that not enough research has been conducted to fully assess and understand what is going on in nursing homes, the first step to solving the problem.

Nursing home abuse cases may top 1 million

According to the American Geriatric Society, between 700,000 and 1.2 million elderly individuals are subjected to abuse in the United States, with 450,000 new cases every year. Research also suggests that only approximately one-fourth of nursing home abuse cases are actually reported. This means that three-fourths of abuse goes unreported.

Protect your loved one from nursing home abuse

According to the American Geriatrics Society, 700,000 to 1.2 million individuals over the age of 65 are subject to abuse in the United States, with over 400,000 new abuse cases each year. With statistics like this, it can be worrisome if you have to place a loved one in the care of a nursing home facility. Therefore, it is imperative to the life of your loved one and to your piece of mind that you conduct a thorough investigation on several nursing homes before you choose one.

Poor nutrition can be a factor in nursing home abuse

Proper nutrition is essential to a person’s health and increased quality of life. It is particularly important to get proper nutrition as a person ages to avoid various medical conditions. Even though malnutrition is avoidable, approximately two out of five nursing home residents suffer from this form of negligence.

How to spot nursing home negligence

According to the National Academy of Sciences Panel to Review Risk and Prevalence of Elder Abuse, elder abuse, particularly in nursing home settings, is caused by stressful working conditions for the employees, staff shortage, staff burnout and, inadequate training of the nursing home aids. This is a serious issue throughout nursing homes in the United States and has led to the physical and mental destruction of nursing home residents everywhere. The US Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime estimated a 150 percent increase of this type of abuse from 1986 to 1996 (Ibid.). These findings suggests that abuse in nursing homes is not going to end any time soon, and may even escalate. If your loved one is in a nursing home, it is imperative to observe the surroundings and other warning signs for abuse.

Choosing a good nursing home is vital

Putting a loved one in a nursing home can be a very difficult decision. Many people, after making the decision, are faced with questions such as “Will my loved one be safe” and “Can I trust strangers to care for my loved one?” These questions are extremely valid and should be answered in some capacity before choosing the right nursing home for an elderly parent or other incapacitated, dependent relative.

Nursing home abuse can lead to bedsores

Bedsores, also known as decubitis ulcers or pressure sores, can be very shocking to look at. These sores are avoidable and will heal immediately, sometimes within a couple of hours, if the sore gets proper attention. If left untreated, these sores can become so progressive that death is the inevitable result. Yet many nursing home residents suffer and die from these sores every year.

Nursing home negligence lawyers

If you are searching for Texas nursing home negligence lawyers for information on filing a nursing home negligence lawsuit, submit the form provided on this page. A nursing home neglect lawyer with Jim S. Adler & Associates will contact you.