Nursing residents experience abuse more often than families would prefer to believe, according to the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA). While you cannot always anticipate whether or not a loved one may fall victim to such negligence or deliberate harm, you can keep an eye out for signs that indicate that their health may be suffering as a result of a caretaker’s abuse.
Unexplained bruises, cuts, and burns, for example, are all clear signs of physical abuse in a nursing home. If you see these types of injuries befalling your loved one, you can reach out to a Kansas City unexplained bruises or cuts or burns lawyer with Pintas & Mullins Law Firm.
To discuss a potential case involving your loved one, call (800) 842-6336.
Identifying Nursing Home Abuse
Nursing home abuse is not limited to one manner of abuse. Instead, a nursing home resident may fall victim to any of the following, either singularly or in combination:
- Physical abuse
- Emotional abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Financial abuse
- Neglect
Neglect, it is worth mentioning, can contribute to any of the above categories, either as a motivation or as a way through which an abuser can express said abuse towards a nursing home resident.
It is not always easy, however, to identify these forms of abuse. Each has its own set of symptoms that can help you pick up on whether or not your loved one is being cared for. Unexplained bruises, cuts, and burns, however, are all most often indicative of physical abuse. If you notice that your loved one seems to be falling victim to these types of injuries more often than they should, then you have the option of working with a Kansas City unexplained bruises or cuts or burns lawyer to determine what might be going on in the nursing home in question.
Missouri Law and Nursing Home Abuse
Do note, though, that if you wish to establish a civil case against a caretaker or a larger institution, you will need to determine whether or not the abuse that your loved one suffered falls under the state’s definition of nursing home abuse.
Revised Statutes of Missouri (RSMo) §198.070 describes nursing home abuse as the deliberate compromising of an elder’s health by any party who might take care of such a party, ranging from caretakers to attending medical professionals. These parties are expected to report incidents of abuse if they suspect that a party under their care may be suffering. Failure to report constitutes neglect in the eyes of the law and can lead to legal consequences for those parties.
For a free legal consultation with a City Unexplained Bruises or Cuts or Burns Lawyer serving Kansas, call (800) 794-0444
Responding to Suspected Nursing Home Abuse
If you believe that a loved one of yours may be suffering from physical nursing home abuse, you can take action even before reaching out to a lawyer. This way, you can make sure that your loved one is out of harm’s way before you make it known to the parties involved that you know of your loved one’s losses and that you intend to take action.
Do Not Put a Loved One in More Danger
The first thing you want to do, should you suspect that your loved one has suffered from physical abuse, is to remain calm. This can be difficult, especially if you believe one particular caretaker has injured your loved one. However, by keeping your temper in check, you can protect your loved one from danger while you seek out alternative residencies to place them into.
Move Your Loved One
You will want to get your loved one out of harm’s way as soon as you can if you suspect that they have suffered from physical harm at the hands of their caretakers. You can spend time researching other care facilities in your area or work with other family members to at least house your loved one while you search for an alternative facility.
Bring Your Evidence Together
Once your loved one is safe, you can bring together the evidence you have that suggests the caretakers at a previous facility not only failed to provide for your loved one but actively inflicted harm unto her. A third-party investigator can help you bring this evidence together, but you can also speak with other nursing home residents or a nursing home’s administrative staff to gather the information on your own.
Report the Suspected Abuse
With your evidence on hand, you can then go about reporting a case of nursing home abuse to local law enforcement representatives in your area. You can work with a Kansas City unexplained bruises or cuts or burns lawyer during this process to make your losses clear.
Kansas City Unexplained Bruises or Cuts or Burns Lawyer Near Me (800) 794-0444
You Can Work with a Kansas City Unexplained Bruises or Cuts or Burns Lawyer
After you have removed your loved one from an environment that seems to be causing them harm, know that you have the right to pursue legal action against any parties you believe to be liable for your affiliated losses. To do so, you can either file a demand letter with the at-fault party, or you can craft a complaint to file with a court in your area.
A Kansas City unexplained bruises or cuts or burns lawyer can help you bring together the information you need to file either of the aforementioned documents. Similarly, if you receive a settlement offer from the nursing home in question, an attorney can walk you through what your potential avenues for compensation might look like and how you can best negotiate for comprehensive coverage.
Above all else, though, know that Pintas & Mullins Law Firm operates on contingency. We will not charge you for the services that you benefit from unless you receive compensation for your losses, be that from a court or after direct negotiations with the party you believe to be liable for your loved one’s care and condition.
If you want to speak with us regarding your potential compensation after a case of nursing home abuse, call (800) 842-6336.
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