If your loved one was the victim of verbal or emotional abuse in a northern New Jersey nursing home, you might be able to recover compensation for their suffering. Verbal and emotional abuse can devastate its victims. They suffer physically, emotionally, and financially. Some abuse victims never fully recover and show emotional scars for life from their traumatic experiences.
You expect your loved one’s nursing home to keep them safe, and any form of abuse or neglect is a direct violation of this promise to your family. If you have considered taking legal action and would like to learn more about your options, you can contact a Newark verbal or emotional abuse lawyer. Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today at 800-842-6336 to discuss your case with a team member during a free consultation.
Examples of Verbal or Emotional Abuse
Verbal and emotional abuse comes in many forms. No case of verbal or emotional abuse is too slight. Every victim is different and can suffer significantly from even minimal forms of mistreatment. Verbal and emotional abuse can lead to even more acute physical and emotional health repercussions. Some common examples of verbal or emotional abuse include:
- Screaming, yelling, or unnecessary voice raising.
- Name-calling, belittling, talking down to a resident, or treating them like a child.
- Lying to a victim or intentionally withholding information.
- Deliberately ignoring a resident.
- Intimidation.
- Manipulation.
Perpetrators of abuse can be once-trusted staff members of nursing homes, third-party vendors such as janitorial workers, visitors, other residents, and even family members. Abusers sometimes target elderly adults due to their vulnerable physical or mental state. While you should have peace of mind that your loved one will receive proper care in a nursing home setting, the sad reality is that they could have suffered from a form of abuse.
The Prevalence of Nursing Home Abuse
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are over 1.3 million nursing home residents in the United States. This number is likely to rise in the future due to increasing life expectancy rates. While most nursing home residents live in safety, nursing home abuse sadly is more common than you might expect.
One report from the World Health Organization (WHO) found that nearly two-thirds of long-term care facility staff members admitted to mistreating a resident in the prior year. The same report showed that one in six elderly adults will experience a form of abuse at their nursing home or other facilities. When you consider that many verbal or emotional abuse cases go unreported, this staggering figure may even be higher.
How Abuse Can Affect Victims
Any form of abuse can completely devastate your loved one and your family, and emotional or verbal abuse can also lead to severe suffering. Some victims of abuse never fully recover and require years of ongoing medical treatment. Verbal or emotional abuse can lead to the following:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Suicidal thoughts
- Ongoing fear
- Personality changes
- Social withdrawal
Your loved one can also suffer financially due to expensive medical bills for ongoing emotional treatment and support.
Seek Help for Your Loved One
If you suspect something could be wrong or that your loved one has suffered nursing home abuse, you should seek immediate help. If your loved one acts unusually, complains about their nursing home experience, or shows other signs of trouble, you should take these signs very seriously and report your concerns to the appropriate authorities.
While reporting your suspicions is a start, it could also benefit you to discuss your legal actions with a Newark verbal or emotional abuse lawyer. The team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can help you understand the complex legal system so you can focus on your family. Call today to learn more about your options.
For a free legal consultation with a Newark Verbal Or Emotional Abuse Lawyer serving Newark, call (800) 794-0444
Potentially Recoverable Compensation
Victims of verbal or emotional abuse sometimes qualify for financial compensation. If your loved one suffered in any way because of abuse from another party, such as nursing home staff, you may have grounds for a legal claim. Compensation can come via reimbursement for medical expenses and legal fees, moving costs to a new facility, punitive damages awarded to prevent future abuse, emotional pain and suffering, and more.
Federal law requires nursing homes and other long-term care facilities to uphold a high standard of care. If another party was even partially at fault for your loved one’s suffering, you could have a case. New Jersey has a two-year statute of limitations outlined in NJ Revised Statute § 2a:14-2 for personal injury lawsuits, so it could benefit you to keep this deadline in mind while considering whether to file a claim.
Newark Newark Verbal Or Emotional Abuse Lawyer Near Me (800) 794-0444
Exploring Your Legal Options
In the aftermath of verbal or emotional abuse, you want the best for your loved one and family. While supporting the health and well-being of your loved one is the most important thing you can do, you might also want to consider your legal options. Victims of emotional and verbal abuse in a nursing home deserve justice. Taking legal action can help bring responsible parties to account while potentially enabling victims to recover compensation.
A Newark verbal or emotional abuse lawyer can help you explore your legal options during this difficult time. A team member from Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can discuss your case in detail while answering any questions you might have about the legal process. Pick up the phone and call 800-842-6336 for your free, no-obligation case review. The sooner you call, the sooner you can put this challenging chapter behind you and focus on spending time with your loved ones.
Call or text (800) 794-0444 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
