Irvine Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Helping Families Protect Their Loved Ones

For many families, the decision to transition themselves or a loved one to a nursing home is not a decision they make lightly. Sometimes it is for temporary care after an illness or surgery, but for other individuals, it is a permanent change. Regardless of the reason, you anticipate that any nursing home you choose will provide a high level of care to its residents. Sadly, this is not always the case, and those entrusted with meeting the resident’s needs can cause harm through active abuse or passive neglect. In these instances, Hejazi Law Group can help you seek justice from those responsible.

What Types of Abuse Can Happen in Nursing Homes?

Nursing homes exist to provide safe, caring spaces for individuals who can no longer live independently or who wish to have the extra support a nursing home administers. Nursing home abuse can range from intentional acts of mistreatment to negligent care caused by chronic understaffing and inadequate training. No matter how the abuse happens, the victims’ needless suffering is tragic.

Common examples of abuse or neglect include:

• Malnutrition or dehydration
• Medication errors, such as forgetting to administer prescription drugs, incorrect dosing, or failing to account for drug interactions
• Physical, verbal, or sexual assault by employees or other residents
• Prolonged bed rest leads to pressure sores and other complications
• Unattended or unsupervised walking or standing, resulting in falls and injury
• Unsanitary conditions or inadequate help with personal hygiene causing illness or infection

How Can You Identify Elder Abuse?

Because many nursing home residents may be non-verbal or have difficulty communicating due to Alzheimer’s, dementia, or other conditions, they may struggle to inform others about the abuse. Families must be proactive in detecting signs of elder abuse to protect their loved ones. Some indications of possible abuse or neglect may include the following:

• Withdrawal from friends or previously enjoyed activities
• Bruises, cuts, abrasions, welts, or broken bones, especially if there is no documentation of how they happened and the family was not informed promptly
• Unexplained weight loss or gain
• Symptoms of malnutrition like easy bruising, mouth sores, dental problems, and difficulty healing
• Sudden behavioral changes, such as unusual agitation, biting, lashing out, or refusing to be touched
• Indications of poor care include bed sores, poor hygiene, dehydration, infections, and frequent illnesses
• Unexpected death

If you suspect your loved one has suffered abuse, you can contact a lawyer for a free consultation to help you determine the best course of action to protect their well-being.

What Compensation Can Victims of Nursing Home Abuse and Their Families Seek?

When you trust a nursing home to care for your loved one, and they end up suffering abuse, it can feel like the ultimate betrayal. Some of the damages that may be obtained in nursing home abuse cases include:

• Economic damages: These are awarded for financial losses experienced due to the abuse. The victim could be compensated if they have medical bills, require ongoing medical treatment, or have to seek rehabilitation due to their injuries.
• Non-economic damages: Abuse can cause physical pain and decrease a victim’s quality of life. Additionally, experiencing abuse from a trusted individual is deeply emotionally traumatic. Compensation can be granted to the victim for these and other non-economic losses.
• Punitive damages: If the abusive actions were intentional or malicious, or if the nursing home involved has a history of negligence, punitive damages may be awarded by the court.

If the abuse resulted in the death of your loved one, you could be eligible to bring a wrongful death lawsuit against the perpetrators.

Why Hire a Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer?

Holding the nursing home and its staff responsible for the abuse your loved one suffered requires collecting evidence to build a strong case. Often, nursing home abuse victims cannot testify on their own behalf due to their age or medical conditions. Hiring a trusted lawyer as soon as possible to conduct a thorough investigation before critical evidence is lost or destroyed is key. Hejazi Law Group aims to ensure that nursing home residents are treated with the respect and care they deserve and that those who fail in their duties to these residents are held accountable. Call (949) 749-7402 today for a free consultation with a compassionate, knowledgeable nursing home abuse attorney.