Veteran’s Affairs (VA) community living centers are meant to provide care to veterans with chronic conditions such as dementia, those requiring rehabilitation and assistance, or those whose families cannot take care of them. Unfortunately, these centers do not always uphold the standard of care that is expected. Elderly veterans may be at risk of being abused and neglected at these institutions.
If your loved one suffered injuries as a result of abuse or neglect at a VA community living center, you may have a right to file a nursing home abuse lawsuit in pursuit of compensation for your losses. A Kansas City veterans neglect and abuse lawyer can investigate your situation and fight for the compensation that you and your loved one may be entitled to receive.
Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today at (800) 842-6336 for a free case evaluation.
Veterans Can Be Susceptible to Abuse and Neglect
Veterans can suffer from serious injuries and mental health disorders. Some mental diseases can include dementia or combat-related injuries, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD can lead to negative mood changes and aggressive behavior, as the Mayo Clinic describes.
This may make the caregivers feel justified for their abusive acts. Due to their declined physical and mental health, veterans can be targets and more susceptible to different types of abuse. Veterans living in a VA nursing home can be financially unstable, which means that they may not switch to a new facility at will. Such a situation may put a veteran into a predicament of needing help.
How Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse May Occur Against Veterans
Types of abuse and neglect veterans may suffer at the hands of a nursing home can vary. The abuse may be emotional, physical, sexual, or financial. These types of abuse may take a heavy toll on their quality of life, exacerbating their mental and physical problems.
Physical Abuse
Considering a resident’s age and health conditions, the slightest physical abuse may result in severe injuries or death. Signs of physical abuse may include bruises, sores, lacerations, and unexplained fractures.
Emotional and Psychological Abuse
Veterans are likely to endure difficult memories of their wartime experiences. These memories may cause emotional pain and distress. If your loved one is in this state and is denied access to drugs and counseling, it can amount to nursing home abuse.
Emotional abuse can also involve willful infliction of mental anguish through abusive verbal language. This can include ridicule, humiliation, threatening, and shouting. Signs of emotional and psychological abuse may include depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts.
Financial Abuse
This may involve illegal and non-consensual misuse of funds, embezzlement, fraud, and forced property transfer. Veterans can be targets of fraud and financial exploitation because some of them receive VA benefits.
Sexual Abuse
This involves unwanted sexual touch or attention. This type of abuse can be devastating and may permanently damage the emotional well-being of your elderly loved one. Signs of this abuse may include unexplained STDs and infections, and bruising and bleeding of the genital area.
For a free legal consultation, call (800) 842-6336
We Can Help Your Loved One Recover Damages from Veterans’ Home Injuries
Owners and operators of nursing homes have a moral and legal duty and obligation to care for and uphold their residents’ physical and psychological well-being. If a resident is injured due to a staff’s negligence or due to the owner’s failure to implement appropriate policies and procedures to protect residents, you may have legal recourse against the facility.
Our attorneys will help you determine the party at fault for your loved one’s abuse and neglect, and pursue legal action against them. Through a personal injury claim, your loved one may recover damages such as:
- Medical care: Your loved one may be entitled to compensation for medical costs arising from the neglect or abuse in a nursing home. Compensation may include future costs associated with the injuries.
- Pain and suffering: Abuse and neglect can cause irreparable physical and emotional damage to your loved one.
- Funeral and burial: If your loved one died due to abuse and neglect, you may recover costs for their funeral and burial.
What to Do if You Suspect Abuse or Neglect
Reporting abuse in a VA community living center can be difficult for residents. This is particularly the case when they fear retaliation from the staff members. In instances where the victims suffer from dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, they may be unable to take action regarding the abuse. If you suspect that your loved one has suffered harm from mistreatment, there are steps that you can take to save them from further abuse and pursue justice for them. Some of these steps include:
Contact the Police
If you believe that your loved one is in danger, do not delay calling the police. Give details of the facility in which your loved one resides, and a description of what you think may have happened to them.
Report to Authorities
If the situation is not an emergency, report the case to The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) by calling the hotline at (800) 842-6336.
Find an Attorney
Now it is time to find a lawyer who can guide you on your next steps. Our attorneys will work hard to ensure that those responsible for your loved one’s injuries are held accountable and that you file a legal claim within the set timeline. Under Missouri Revisor of Statutes §516.120, you have up to five years to file a personal injury claim for damages.
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Get Help from a Kansas City Veterans Neglect and Abuse Lawyer
If your loved one has suffered injuries because of abuse and neglect of any kind at a VA community living center, we can help hold the responsible parties accountable in a civil claim.
We work on a contingency-fee-basis, meaning that you will not pay us unless we win financial awards on your behalf. Reach out to Pintas & Mullins Law Firm at (800) 842-6336 so a Kansas City veterans neglect and abuse lawyer can get started on your case.
Call or text (800) 842-6336 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form