Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer in Philadelphia
Pennsylvania has the 8th largest population of older citizens. By 2030, Pennsylvania’s 60 and older population is expected to rise as high as 29% of the overall population. Many of this older population live in nursing homes. Unfortunately, nursing home patients are often victim to abuse and taken advantage of by their caretakers. According to the Government Accountability Office, from 2013 to 2017, incidents that put nursing home residents in harm or immediate danger rose by nearly 11%. Often often unable to care for themselves, nursing home residents are one of the most vulnerable groups in our society, substantially relying on others to administer them care. In order to protect their rights, state and federal governments have enacted laws to protect them from abuse.
This vulnerable populace needs the help of experienced trial attorneys to ensure that their rights are protected. Lawyers offer protection to vulnerable groups in our society by punishing wrongdoing in our courts, and acting as a deterrent to future wrongdoing. Our attorneys will ensure that you and your family are protected from abuse, providing you with the help you need to be made whole.
TYPES OF NURSING HOME NEGLECT
Nursing home neglect stems from a caretaker’s failure to provide adequate care to a patient. According to the Nursing Home Abuse Center, there are four main types of nursing home neglect:
- Medical neglect: this refers to the failure of a nursing facility to properly attend to or prevent a resident’s medical concerns, resulting in issues like inadequate diabetic care, bedsores, infections, and mobility issues.
- Neglect of basic needs: This refers to the failure of a nursing home to provide a resident with adequate food, water, or a clean, safe environment.
- Neglect of personal hygiene: This refers to the failure of a nursing facility to properly help a resident maintain their hygiene, including dental care, laundry, and bathing.
- Social or emotional neglect: This involves harms like ignoring a nursing home resident, leaving them alone excessively, constant unkind treatment, and other failures to provide enough social and emotional care.
WARNING SIGNS OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT
Knowing the signs of abuse are important for ensuring your loved one is safe in a nursing home. Recognizing these warning signs can prevent further harm and allow you to be compensated for harm already done:
PHYSICAL INJURIES
- Untimely or unexplained death
- Infected bedsores or pressure ulcers
- Unexpected falls
- Unexplained injuries like broken bones and sprains, head injuries, bruises, burns, cuts or abrasions
- Medication errors or overdoses
NEGLECT
- Malnutrition and dehydration
- Unsanitary or unclean conditions
EMOTIONAL OR BEHAVIORAL CHANGES
- Agitation, withdrawal or fear
- Frequent crying
- Complaints of poor treatment
