Some medical conditions and prescription medicines can cause skin in elderly persons to bruise and rupture more easily, but if you see any unexplained bruises or cuts on your loved one’s skin, you may wish to pay closer attention and investigate the circumstances of these injuries.
Often, an elderly person may be hesitant to report physical abuse or they may not be able to, being hampered by illnesses such as dementia that impair their cognitive abilities. It is therefore important to establish the reason for any unexplained bruises and injuries on your loved one.
Physical abuse of elderly nursing home residents can be devastating, causing not only physical but also emotional wounds. The impacts of repeated physical abuse can also cause monetary losses due to medical bills and potential hospitalization of the abuse victim, for example.
You might be rightfully shocked and unsure what to do when detecting any signs of physical abuse on your loved one, such as bruises, cuts, burns, or others. However, it is important that you take immediate action to report and stop the suspected abuse and help your loved one as well as other residents.
If your parent or spouse suffered physical abuse, you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit and potentially recover an award that may go some way to help your relative recover, and compensate them and the family for any medical bills or mental anguish suffered. A Forest View unexplained bruises or cuts or burns lawyer can help you determine your best cause of action and whether filing a lawsuit is right for you. Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm now for your free appointment.
Nursing Home Laws
A nursing home is required by federal law to report all allegations of abuse or neglect, making sure that all residents are safe. This includes so-called “injuries of an unknown source”, such as unexplained cuts, bruises, and burns.
The nursing home is responsible for keeping residents safe from any kind of abuse at all times. The facility must ensure, for example, that staff is adequately vetted through background checks, ensuring that they do not have a history of abuse and violence. However, nursing home responsibility does not end with their staff.
The National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) states that elder abuse in long-term care facilities is often perpetrated by other residents as well as staff. The nursing home is ultimately responsible to ensure that no elder abuse happens on their property, whether by staff or a third party.
Physical Abuse in Nursing Homes
Unfortunately, according to statistics and data on elder abuse, physical abuse in nursing homes happens all too often to vulnerable nursing home residents. The NCEA states that abuse of the elderly is a growing problem, with those suffering from any disabilities or medical conditions such as dementia, being particularly at risk. The most common documented physical signs of elder abuse, according to the NCEA, are bruises, wounds, and miscellaneous injuries.
If you detected signs of physical abuse, you might worry that your loved one suffers abuse in other ways too, for example, sexually or emotionally. Signs of abuse such as cuts, bruises, and burns, may just be the tip of the iceberg and need investigating and reporting immediately. By law, according to the Department of Health and Human Services, a nursing home needs to investigate any reports of injuries of unknown origin promptly. A Forest View unexplained bruises or cuts or burns lawyer may be able to help you open an investigation.
For a free legal consultation with a Unexplained Bruises or Cuts or Burns Lawyer serving Forest View, call (800) 842-6336
Signs That Your Loved One Is Suffering Abuse
While bruises or cuts may not always be conclusive proof for abuse, and could also be due to medical issues, there are other signs to watch out for that may point to physical abuse.
Emotional distress can be a sign of physical abuse. In addition to any unexplained bruises or cuts, your loved one might be more withdrawn than usual, or suffer from depression, for example.
Your spouse or parent might be more anxious than usual and try to avoid a particular caregiver or resident of the nursing home. It is also possible that your loved one is showing further and more serious signs of physical abuse, such as unexplained fractures or sprains. Any changes in demeanor of your loved one as well as unexplained injuries could be signs of physical abuse and warrant a prompt follow up.
If your relative suffered physical abuse and you decide to file a personal injury lawsuit, it is important to note that the Illinois statute of limitations generally has a two-year limit for personal injury cases, starting on the date of the injury. Gathering evidence and establishing liability in a physical abuse case can be challenging and take some time. It is important to find witnesses, examine medical reports, and obtain physician’s opinions, for example. It is, therefore, advisable to start the process sooner rather than later.
Forest View Unexplained Bruises or Cuts or Burns Lawyer Near Me (800) 842-6336
Pintas & Mullins Law Firm Will Fight for Your Rights
Your loved one does not only deserve respect, dignity, and kindness, but also established legal rights as a resident in a nursing home. One of those fundamental rights, by law, is to live out their twilight years free from abuse and neglect of any kind, including any type of physical abuse.
If you detect any unexplained injuries on your loved one, you may wish to speak to a nursing home lawyer to find out how you can proceed and potentially hold a nursing home responsible for abuse occurring on their property. Our dedicated team will advise you free of charge. We can also help you gather evidence and witnesses to build a case.
Should you decide to file a lawsuit, a Forest View unexplained bruises or cuts or burns lawyer can fight for your loved one’s rights and compensation for their injuries. Any awards that you might receive as a result of legal action can help your loved one move on and recover. In negotiating a settlement, we will also consider any potential future medical bills or expenses relating to the physical abuse suffered in the nursing home.
Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm now and find out how we can help you.
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