Nursing Home Abuse Archives

Nursing Home Abuse

by Charlie Smith | Jul 6, 2020 | Blog, Evidence, Nursing Home Abuse |

Millions of elders living in nursing homes are victims of abuse every year and are not even aware of it. Elder abuse in nursing homes can be difficult to detect and it is not uncommon for cases to go unreported. Though many elderly residents in nursing homes are treated well and cared for in the manner in which they should be, abuse still continues and is much more prevalent that people wish to believe. Nursing home abuse is something that should definitely be of concern; seniors who have been abused have a 300% greater chance of death in the 3 years following the abuse than those who are not abused. Statistics show that nearly 1 in 6 nursing home residents are the victims of abuse or neglect every year, and although legislatures in all 50 states have passed anti-elder-abuse laws, nursing home abuse continues to occur. Nursing home abuse can include any of the following: Physical abuse – may be intentional such as hitting or pinching, or it may be due to neglect including overuse of restraints and lack of physical care Psychological abuse – this may be harder to identify, but it includes yelling, criticizing, humiliating or shaming of the patient. Sexual abuse – any unwanted sexual attention or exploitation Financial exploitation – may include taking advantage of access to patient’s financial matters, stealing, or otherwise compromising a patient’s financial status. Neglect – often times may be unintentional and a result of inadequate staffing, but nevertheless it is considered to be abusive. Instances of neglect may include, personal hygiene care not being met, not provided with food, clothing,...

Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Due to Corona Virus

by David Singer | May 4, 2020 | Nursing Home Abuse |

The coronavirus pandemic has devastated the nation as experts scramble to figure out the best way to contain the disease and protect vulnerable populations. One of the most vulnerable populations are the elderly, and unfortunately for some groups of elderly, attempts at containment, quarantine, and protection may have been too little too late. Here David W. Singer and Associates answer your legal questions when it comes to nursing home neglect and coronavirus. Am I able to sue a nursing home for coronavirus (COVID-19) infection and injuries?- As the disease spread rapidly on U.S. soil, nursing homes quickly became hot spots for the spread of the virus. For many nursing home residents, infections such as coronavirus (COVID-19) may be especially fatal. This is the reason why nursing homes and assisted living facilities are required by federal law to monitor residents for the presence of infections in order to minimize the occurrence of infection along with attempting to control outbreaks. If the appropriate protocols to identify and limit the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) were not appropriately implemented in a nursing home facility, then they may be open to legal action. The measures that nursing homes typically take in order to prevent infections and outbreaks- When an infection control protocol is put into action at a nursing home or long-term care facility, workers across all programs, services, and settings will collaborate with the shared aim of: Minimizing the risk of infection in individual residents Lessening the risk of transmission among and between residents and healthcare workers Lessening the risk of injections developing in residents that are related to the use...