Putting a family member into the care of a nursing home or assisted living facility is a huge decision. Unfortunately, not every nursing home treats its residents with the respect they deserve and are owed under Pennsylvania law. Mistreatment and neglect can lead to vulnerable elderly or disabled people becoming seriously injured or ill.
If you believe your family member is being mistreated by a nursing home staff member, administrator, or owner, consider legal action on their behalf with a seasoned attorney at Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers. A Quakertown nursing home abuse lawyer like Founding Partner Jon Ostroff will work to ensure your loved one is safe and that the wrongdoers are held accountable.
Our renowned legal team has won countless cases on behalf of families across Pennsylvania, including a recent case for the family of an elderly woman who suffered a fatal fall due to deficient lighting in her nursing home room. We settled the case for a substantial and confidential amount. Whether your loved one suffered intentional abuse or neglectful care, we will fight tirelessly to protect your family’s rights.
How to Tell if a Nursing Home Resident is Being Abused
One reason nursing home abuse is so hard to prevent is that the warning signs can be difficult to detect. Many nursing home residents have mental and physical difficulties that make them unable to speak or keep their thoughts straight. This can also make them unable to tell anyone they are being mistreated. Even residents who can communicate clearly might not be willing to, if they fear retaliation from their abusers.
If you have family members in assisted living facilities, it is essential to know the common signs of abuse or neglect and act quickly to protect them. Specific signs to watch out for in nursing homes include:
- Dirty clothes, bedsheets, or living spaces
- Consistent small injuries and illnesses without any good explanation
- Sudden changes in a resident’s mood or personality
- Bruising around the wrists and/or ankles
- Hair falling out, yellowed fingernails, and other signs of dehydration
- Sudden weight loss or gain
- Staff members refusing to leave residents alone with visitors
- Strange behavior by a resident when they’re around a particular staff member
Your Quakertown attorney can review possible signs of nursing home abuse and neglect with you during a free consultation.
Compensation for Mistreatment in a Nursing Home
As soon as you ensure an abused or neglected nursing home resident is not in danger of further harm, you should contact an experienced lawyer to demand compensation for their injuries. Depending on the situation, you and your family could get compensated for medical bills, physical pain, emotional damages, and lost wages (if you took time off to help your family member). Courts sometimes order punitive damages to punish particularly egregious behavior, as a nursing home abuse lawyer at Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers can explain.
Talk to a Quakertown Nursing Home Abuse Attorney Today
Nursing home mistreatment is a serious issue that affects far too many families around the Commonwealth. If someone you love is being neglected or abused in a nursing home, do not hesitate to remove them from the dangerous situation and seek legal counsel to discuss your options.
A Quakertown nursing home abuse lawyer at Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers will fight like hell to protect your family from negligent and abusive facilities. You will not pay us anything until we recover compensation on your behalf, so call us today to get started.
