If someone you love has been abused in a nursing home, you may be entitled to financial compensation. For many families, the choice to turn to assisted living is a serious one. Everyone wants their loved ones to be in the best living situation as possible, in the care of compassionate and responsible people who you should be able to trust. Even if a nursing home seems great when there are visitors around, you can’t know for sure what is happening when you are away. Neglect and abuse is unfortunately more common than you might expect, and can cause physical and mental anguish for the person receiving care and for their families as well.
Nursing homes have a duty to provide a safe and comfortable home for their residents, and when they fail in this duty, they can be held financially responsible. The Law Offices of Ronald J. Resmini, Accident & Injury Lawyers, Ltd. can help you pursue a nursing home abuse claim against an assisted living home to recover financial compensation. Call our Warwick nursing home abuse attorneys today at (401) 751-8855 for a free consultation.
Do I Need A Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer?
All nursing homes have a minimum standard of living that they must adhere to according to the Nursing Home Reform Act (NHRA). There is no specific provision within this law that covers the ability to sue for nursing home abuse, so you must prove that the standards of care were not met if you choose to file a lawsuit. Having a team of experienced lawyers on your side will be invaluable in your case. You are more likely to receive a higher settlement when working with a nursing home abuse lawyer. They will have a strong understanding of the laws defining the standards of care for such facilities and have experience winning cases like yours. Most importantly, the stress and emotions involved in a nursing home abuse case can take a toll on a devastated family. With a lawyer, you will be able to place the burden of a lawsuit in experienced hands so that you can focus on your family.
Why Choose the Law Offices of Ronald J. Resmini, Accident & Injury Lawyers, Ltd. To Handle My Case?
Our firm has over 50 years of experience helping the people of Warwick fight injustice such as nursing home abuse. We strongly value the trust our clients place in us to fight for the rights of the elderly and take a stand against nursing home abuse. We have won millions of dollars for our past clients and have over 85 years of combined experience. We hold a perfect 10 rating with Avvo and an AV-Preeminent rating with Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rankings available and a testament to our success and reputation. We also work on a contingency-fee basis, which means that you won’t owe us any attorney fees unless and until we win you financial compensation. In the rare event that we are unable to secure money for you, you won’t owe us anything.
Types of Elder Abuse
Elder abuse in a nursing home can take many forms. Some common forms of elder abuse include the following:
- Physical abuse includes kicking, shoving, slapping, and using unnecessary or harmful physical force including physical or drug-induced restraints.
- Mental or emotional abuse happens when patients are threatened, yelled at, humiliated, or otherwise degraded in a way that increases anxiety and depression. This can manifest in the form of verbal abuse, not fulfilling requests for assistance, or forcing extended periods of social isolation.
- Sexual abuse encompasses any non-consensual sexual interaction including touching or penetration, sexual language, or requirements to remove clothing without a legitimate reason. Sexual abuse can occur at the hands of staff or other residents of a nursing home.
- Financial abuse takes advantage of the trust that the elderly place in the nursing home that should care for them by adding unnecessary expenses that most residents don’t catch. One form of financial abuse is health insurance fraud. Financial abuse can also take the form of staff or other residents stealing from the victim or pressuring them to alter their will.
If you suspect that your loved one is experiencing any of these forms of abuse, do not hesitate to work with a lawyer to make sure that those responsible are held accountable.
Signs of Elder Abuse
Every time you visit a loved one at a nursing home, be vigilant for small signs that could be indicative of a larger problem. If something seems off, don’t be afraid to ask questions or dig a little deeper to make sure that nothing bad is happening when visitors aren’t around. These signs may also indicate abuse:
- Bed sores
- Infection
- Dehydration
- Falls or other injuries, including bruises
- Overmedication or undermedication
- Sudden weight loss
- Mood or behavior change
- Anxiety or fearfulness
- Unwillingness to talk
- Not being allowed to be alone with your loved one
- Unexplained or unexpected death
If you see any of these signs, speak to your loved one and to the nursing staff to discuss what caused them. The elderly are often vulnerable and need someone to act on their behalf in the face of any experienced abuse or injustice. If your inquiry leads to the discovery of abuse then you should take legal action.
Contact a Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
Nursing home abuse is a serious and sadly common occurrence, but you should not feel alone in dealing with such a problem. People who neglect or abuse the elderly in nursing homes need to be held accountable, and the Warwick lawyers at the Law Offices of Ronald J. Resmini, Accident & Injury Lawyers, Ltd. are fully dedicated to doing so. We will handle your case with aggression but also treat you and your loved ones with compassion as you go through this difficult time. Contact us today at (401) 751-8855 to learn how we can help you during a free consultation.
