Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in Philadelphia
Fighting to Protect Your Elderly Loved Ones Throughout Pennsylvania
There may come a time in our lives when we must entrust the well-being of our loved ones to assisted living facilities or nursing homes. If old age or illness means that they require full-time assistance, you may not be equipped to provide that service while still supporting your family’s financial needs. These facilities can be costly, but they are intended to provide a safe, caring, and fully supervised environment staffed by licensed and experienced professionals.
When they fail to live up to these standards, it is important that you seek recourse immediately. With the increase of our aging population and the borderline epidemic of Alzheimer’s and Dementia, the senior care industry has grown to include facilities and caregivers who may be unlicensed and neglectful – or outright abusive.
If you believe that someone you know is being mistreated, contact our Philadelphia nursing home abuse lawyers at 215-567-7955. We can help you understand your next steps. Our team proudly serves clients in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Nursing Home Neglect/Abuse Statistics:
- According to the National Center for Elder Abuse, nursing home residents are more likely to be abused by other residents than nursing home staff
- The National Ombudsman Reporting System found that in 2014, 7.6% of complaints involved abuse, neglect or exploitation of residents
- Nursing Home Abuse Justice found that about 50% of individuals with dementia are neglected or abused
Negligence & Abuse in Nursing Homes in Philadelphia
Unfortunately, some nursing homes hire inexperienced nurses and technicians. This allows them to pay low-wage salaries and maintain a profit, but your loved ones will usually pay the price. Though you may be paying for 24/7 assistance and one-on-one care, a qualified caregiver may not even be on-site overnight when the elderly are most at risk for falls, accidents, and life-threatening medical conditions like strokes.
Nursing Home Understaffing
Nursing home understaffing can be a common cause of nursing home neglect. Unfortunately, a large amount of nursing homes in the U.S. are drastically understaffed. According to recent data, many establishments will lie about the amount of staffers on-hand, giving family and friends of residents a false sense of security.
When medications are not given in the appropriate dosages and on the appropriate schedule, serious problems could result. Likewise, inadequate nutrition, or not keeping to physician-prescribed diets, can result in dangerous weight loss or illness.
Some of the most common problems we see in these cases include:
- Unprotected Falls
- Development of Bedsores
- Improper Medication Management
- Lack of Emergency Alert System
- Low Blood Pressure
- Loss in Appetite
- Dehydration
- Depression and Emotional Distress
- Weight Loss (which can lead to death).
Not all aging seniors have the ability to communicate what is happening. They may also be too afraid to discuss what is happening to them, or unwilling to risk what care they are receiving.
Signs of Nursing Home Abuse
As with any case of physical abuse, some red flags are:
- Bruises
- Broken bones
- Depression
- Failing health
- Weight loss
- Loss in appetite
Sometimes, the nursing home facilities may not be hygienic, and this may result in serious infections or continual illnesses.
Nursing Home Residents: Know Your Rights!
If you or a loved one are currently living in a nursing home, it is important for them to understand the rights they have which are protected by both federal and state law:
- Being informed about their medical condition
- Participating in their own plan of care
- Managing their own personal finances
- Maintaining their privacy
- Being treated by all staff with dignity and respect
- Being free from any form of mental, physical, and sexual abuse
- Being free from unnecessary restraint, exploitation, neglect, and involuntary seclusion
- Being able to voice grievance without retaliation
If you sense that they are somehow being deprived of one or several of these rights, the first and most important step is to remove the resident from the situation. If their life or health is in imminent danger, 911 should be contacted immediately. Arrangements should be made at a new nursing home facility where they can be safe and protected. Any remnants of the former nursing home abuse should be treated. These residual effects may be physical or psychological.
After they have been moved to safety, reach out to a nursing home abuse lawyer as soon as possible.
Reach out to our Team at 215-567-7955 to schedule your free consultation today .
Additional Reading:
Still have questions regarding nursing home abuse in Pennsylvania? Try visiting our Nursing Home Abuse blog for recent news articles and answers to frequently asked questions:
