The Reality Of Elder Abuse In Nursing Homes

Saturday, December 22, 2018 by The Law Offices of J. Jeffrey Herman

Today we want to talk about something that, quite frankly, do not get talked about enough – elder abuse. Specifically, we want to talk about abuse in nursing homes. It is a reality that many people have to face difficult decisions when it comes to elderly family members. While nobody wants to put their loved ones in a nursing home, there may come a time when their needs become more than what can be handled alone.

When a person makes the hard choice to put their loved one in a nursing home, they trust that the professions there will be just that – professional.

But what happens if you discover that your loved one has been abused in some way by the people entrusted with their care? At the Law Offices of J. Jeffrey Herman, you have someone to turn to. Our team will investigate your claim and work to secure the compensation you and your loved one deserve when you need a Ventura elder abuse attorney.

What Happens

Elder abuse is often hard to detect, especially in a nursing home setting where you may not see your loved one each day. Also, the abusers are likely good at covering their tracks. The CDC defines elder abuse as “an intentional act or failure to act by a caregiver or another person in a relationship involving an expectation of trust that causes or creates a serious risk of harm to an older adult.”

Today, we want to look at the common types of elder abuse we see in nursing homes:

• Financial abuse – We put this first, not because it is the most serious, but because it is becoming more and more common. The nursing home staff has access to sensitive personal information and finances of their residents and they often use this to steal money and identities.
• Insurance Fraud – Often, nursing homes will report to procedures and equipment that they did not perform or use to residents’ insurance companies.
• Negligence – If the nursing home staff fails to adequately provide for their residents, they are being negligent. This includes basic necessities like food, water, and clothing, as well as ensuring they get their medications, are bathed, get regular exercise, and have any wound dressings changed.
• Physical Abuse – All too often, we hear of nursing home staff actually physically abusing residents. Any harmful physical contact is abuse (slapping, choking, punching, kicking, etc.).
• Sexual Abuse – Anytime there is unwanted or forced sexual interaction between nursing home staff and a resident, it is abuse. This includes ALL forms of sexual contact.

Your Next Steps

If you discover that your loved one has been the victim of abuse in a nursing home, seek legal assistance as soon as possible. Your first call needs to be to the police and you need to make sure your loved one is safe. Then, let Law Offices of J. Jeffrey Herman work with you to ensure that the people who are responsible for the abuse are held accountable for their actions. When you need a Ventura elder abuse attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling 805-983-2344.