Nursing home abuse can have devastating effects on the people affected and their families. It is heartbreaking to discover your loved one has suffered at the hands of those entrusted to treat them with the compassion, care, and respect they deserve.
Often, victims of elder abuse cannot communicate what has happened due to health conditions or from fear of retribution if they say anything. However, our Aberdeen personal injury lawyer. can help you identify the signs of nursing home abuse and neglect, stop the abuse, and pursue monetary damages on behalf of your family member.
How to Protect Your Loved One if You Suspect Elder Abuse
Elder abuse consists of the physical, emotional, sexual, or financial mistreatment of an older person, defined as “any knowing, intentional, or negligent act by a caregiver or any other person that causes harm or a serious risk of harm to a vulnerable adult.”
The impact of elder mistreatment is well-documented and has shown significant association with increased early mortality rates in older people. The problem is that many people, including family and friends, cannot identify the signs of possible abuse or don’t know what to do if they suspect something is wrong.
The Maryland Office of Health Care Quality’s Long-Term Care Unit received nearly 1,400 reports of abuse and over 800 neglect allegations in the fiscal year 2020. However, you have several ways to report suspected abuse to people who can help you protect your loved one:
- Call the police if you worry about your loved one’s immediate safety.
- Talk in private to your loved one and arrange frequent calls and visits. Getting other family members and friends involved can also help.
- File a formal complaint with the nursing home administrator.
- Contact elder abuse organizations such as Adult Protection Services or the Maryland Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program.
- Seek advice about your legal options with a nursing home abuse lawyer. They can liaise with external agencies to stop the abuse and discuss how you can hold the nursing home facility accountable.
Identifying the Signs of Nursing Home Abuse
If your loved one cannot communicate the abuse or neglect they have experienced, you could look for the following signs of abuse or neglect. In addition, if you think something is wrong, taking photographs and making notes of these concerns could prove beneficial while substantiating the abuse has occurred:
- Significant weight loss
- Mood changes
- Unexplained injuries
- Social isolation
- Frequent falls
- Developing bedsores due to unsanitary living conditions
- Evidence of theft or unusual financial activity
We understand how heartbreaking it is to learn your loved one has suffered abuse at a trusted facility and the pain it has caused you and your family members. Thus, our lawyers stand ready to support you by holding those responsible for harming your family member accountable for their actions.
Our attorneys will intervene as soon as you hire us. We will coordinate with the relevant authorities and manage communications with the nursing home to ensure the abuse is stopped. In addition, we work tirelessly to pursue compensation so your loved one can access the compassionate care they deserve.
Cases We Can Help You Pursue
Elder abuse victims can file negligence cases when nursing home staff members:
- Fail to develop care plans or follow proper protocols for older people who are at considerable risk of falls
- Do not provide safe and sanitary living conditions
- Fail to seek medical care after a resident sustains an injury
- Neglect basic hygiene such as regular bathing or leaving residents in soiled clothing
- Do nothing to prevent elopement or wandering
If these issues and others result from understaffing or inadequate training, we could pursue a claim against nursing home administrators and the facility itself. In your claim, we could seek damages for:
- Medical bills to treat nursing home abuse injuries
- Relocation costs to another facility
- Reimbursement for stolen money and property
- Your loved one’s pain and suffering
- Your family’s emotional trauma
Contact Us Today And Take The First Step Towards Justice In Your Case! Call (410)777-8960
What We Do to Prove Nursing Home Abuse
The MD Accident Law team is always available to answer your questions when you work with us. We manage every aspect of your case and provide the following services:
- Investigating to find out what happened
- Communicating with other support agencies to get your loved one the help they need
- Gathering documentation and evidence to build a case for compensation
- Speaking to witnesses of the abuse or neglect
- Working with medical professionals who can provide expert testimony
- Negotiating for appropriate monetary damages
- Protecting your loved one’s rights and ensuring they receive fair treatment
- Advocating your case before a jury if necessary
Under the guidance of lead attorney Adam M. Smallow, we will provide practical and compassionate representation that seeks the justice and compensation you deserve.
Be Aware of State Laws That Can Affect Your Right to File
Victims of nursing home abuse or their family members typically have up to three years to file a claim under Maryland’s statute of limitations (Md. Cts. & Jud. Proc. Code § 5-101). Depending on your circumstances, other statutes may apply. Our nursing home abuse lawyers serving Aberdeen can answer any questions you might have.
Aberdeen Nursing Home Abuse Attorney (410)777-8960
When You Need Help, We Support You Every Step of the Way
The legal team at the Adam Smallow Injury Lawyers is dedicated to holding negligent nursing homes accountable for elder abuse that causes a resident’s injury or wrongful death. We fight tirelessly on behalf of our clients to recover the compensation needed to help your loved one receive the care, compassion, and respect they deserve.
To learn more about your legal options and how we can help, contact us today and schedule a free consultation to discuss your concerns in confidence.
Call or text (410)777-8960 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
