Pittston Nursing Home Abuse/Neglect Lawyer
Although doing so is often in a loved one’s best interests, deciding to place a relative in a nursing home or assisted living facility can be an extremely difficult decision. Fortunately, there are many reputable nursing homes and residential facilities in Pennsylvania that take great care to treat elderly individuals whose needs can no longer be met by their families. However, not all nursing homes are so conscientious and may neglect or even abuse their residents. This type of conduct is prohibited by both state and federal law, so employees and administrators who fail to provide proper care to their residents can be held liable for damages. To learn more about filing this type of claim against a negligent nursing home, please contact one of our experienced Pittston nursing home abuse & neglect lawyers for assistance.
What is Nursing Home Abuse?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), elder abuse falls under the following five categories:
- Physical abuse, such as hitting, slapping, pushing, kicking, or burning;
- Financial abuse, which involves stealing money, using credit cards without authorization, and modifying the terms of an elderly’s patient’s will;
- Sexual abuse, which includes sexual harassment and unwanted sexual interaction;
- Neglect, which occurs when a facility fails to meet a patient’s needs by providing adequate food, water, clothing, shelter, hygiene, and medical care; and
- Psychological or emotional abuse, which includes forced isolation, the destruction of personal property, and humiliation.
Some forms of abuse are more obvious than others and many are unaware of their family member’s plight until that individual discloses the abuse. For this reason, it’s important for the family members of nursing home residents to remain vigilant for certain signs of abuse, including:
- Physical injuries, such as broken bones, cuts, bruises, or abrasions;
- Symptoms of malnutrition like unexplained weight loss;
- Sexually transmitted diseases;
- Soiled bedding or unclean clothing;
- Untreated medical conditions;
- Withdrawal or personality changes; and
- Evidence of an unexplained fear of facility employees.
Liable Parties
Nursing homes who engage in this type of abuse can be held liable for their neglect and wrongful conduct. Liable parties could include the institution itself, as well as the facility’s managers, employees, and supervisors, all of whom can be held legally responsible for injuries resulting from:
- Inadequate security
- Failing to properly hire, train, or monitor staff;
- Failing to repair dangerous conditions or hazards on the property;
- Failing to provide proper medical care, food, and shelter;
- Failing to impose health and safety policies; and
- Failing to discipline staff for violating the facility’s policies.
Nursing homes and residential facilities that are found liable for this type of negligence can be required to compensate injured residents for their physical injuries and housing costs, as well as emotional distress and pain and suffering.
Get Legal Help Today
If you believe that an elderly loved one may be a victim of abuse or neglect and have already contacted the authorities, please call the dedicated nursing home abuse and neglect lawyers at the O’Donnell Law Offices to learn more about the legal rights of your elderly relatives. You can reach a member of our team at 570-821-5717 today.
