Dallas Nursing Home Injury Attorneys

Nursing Home Abuse & Nursing Home Neglect

Nursing home abuse and neglect are different forms of mistreatment of elderly residents in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Nursing home abuse refers to any intentional harm or mistreatment inflicted on a resident by a caregiver, staff member, or even another resident. This can include physical abuse (such as hitting, restraining, or slapping), sexual abuse, emotional abuse (such as belittling, isolating, or threatening), and financial exploitation.

Nursing home neglect is the failure of a caregiver or staff member to provide adequate care and attention to a resident. Neglect can include failure to provide food and water, proper hygiene, medical care, and safe living conditions. Both abuse and neglect can have serious consequences for the physical and emotional well-being of elderly residents, and they can be grounds for legal action.

Nursing Home Injuries & Hazards

Nursing home injuries often have serious and lingering consequences. The age and overall health of a nursing home resident can exacerbate an injury that otherwise might not have been too serious for another person, too.

Common types of nursing home injuries that can occur include the following and more:

• Falls and fractures: Elderly residents are at a higher risk of falls due to problems with balance, mobility, grip, and vision. Falls can lead to fractures, head injuries, and other serious injuries.
• Bedsores: Also known as pressure ulcers, bedsores are caused by prolonged pressure on the skin and can be a sign of neglect. They can quickly become infected and lead to serious health complications.
• Malnutrition and dehydration: Many elderly residents in nursing homes have special dietary needs, and neglecting these needs can lead to malnutrition and dehydration. These conditions can increase the risk of infections, cognitive decline, and other health problems.
• Medication errors: Nursing home residents may require multiple medications, and errors can occur in prescribing, administering, or monitoring medications. Medication errors can lead to serious health complications or even death.
• Physical or sexual abuse: As mentioned earlier, nursing home abuse can take many forms, including physical abuse or sexual abuse. Residents with dementia and memory issues are often targeted by bad actors who would intentionally abuse them because they can’t report the attack.
• Wandering and elopement: Elderly residents with memory issues may wander and become lost, especially in a nursing home without proper locking mechanisms on exterior doors and staffed entrances and exits. 

If you suspect that your loved one has suffered from any of these injuries or other forms of mistreatment, it's important to take action and seek legal help. If you are afraid that they are in imminent danger of physical abuse, then you should first call the authorities.

Identifying Warning Signs of Nursing Home Abuse

Spotting warning signs of nursing home abuse and neglect can be challenging, as victims may not report the abuse out of fear, embarrassment, or memory lapses. However, some common signs may indicate that a nursing home resident is being mistreated, which family members should know.

Warning signs of nursing home neglect or abuse can include:

• Physical signs: Unexplained bruises, cuts, burns, or other physical injuries can be a sign of abuse. Bedsores, malnutrition or dehydration, and poor hygiene can indicate neglect.
• Emotional signs: Residents who experience abuse or neglect may show signs of depression, anxiety, or withdrawal. They may also become agitated, fearful, or show signs of trauma.
• Behavioral signs: Beware of sudden and unexplained changes in behavior or personality. These can include sudden changes in eating habits, declining mobility/lack of participation in activities, and uncharacteristic aggression.
• Environmental signs: Pay attention to the cleanliness and safety of the nursing home environment. If you notice that residents seem to be unsupervised or unattended for long periods, or that the nursing home environment is cluttered, dirty, or smelly, these could indicate neglect.

If you observe any of these warning signs, it is important that you report the suspected abuse or neglect to the staff. Remember that nursing home abuse and neglect are serious issues, and they can be grounds for legal action, as well as criminal prosecution.

Get Legal Help Today – We’re Ready to Fight!

Our Dallas nursing home injury attorneys have decades of collective practice experience focused on complex injury claims, such as those involving nursing home injuries, abuse, and neglect. Tell us about what happened to you or your loved one, and we can tell you how we can help.

You can depend on us for all sorts of help and support, such as:

• Legal representation: Our nursing home abuse attorneys can represent you and protect your rights in negotiations or court cases. We can pursue compensation for your injuries or other losses suffered as a result of the abuse or neglect.
• Investigation: We can investigate the situation to gather information and witness testimonies that can be used to build your claim. 
• Settlement: If a settlement is possible, you can depend on us to negotiate with the nursing home and any involved insurance companies on your behalf.
• Advocacy: When a nursing home injury case goes to court, we can represent you as legal advocates, so you don’t have to stress about the details of litigation.
• Compassionate support: We aren’t just attorneys, we’re members of your community and friends. While working on your case, we can offer legal counsel paired with genuinely compassionate support during such a difficult time.

Bring your case to an experienced legal team. Call (770) 637-7603 and request a no-cost, no-obligation initial consultation.