Arlington Nursing Home Physical Abuse Lawyer

Nursing home physical abuse is a problem for Arlington residents. When a loved one suffers an injury or ongoing abuse, it devastates the resident and their family. Nursing homes have an obligation to care for older and vulnerable adults in their facilities. 

Sadly, these individuals cannot defend themselves, making them easier for wrongdoers to cause harm at these facilities. Management teams must review backgrounds and hire qualified employees. When administrations hire underqualified or dangerous employers, they put people in danger. 

If your loved ones suffered abuse from nursing home staff, you must call a personal injury lawyer in Arlington, TN, from Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi, PLC, to discuss your options.

Common Nursing Home Abuse Injuries

Aside from underqualified staff, and inadequate supervision, abuse can be negligent because of a failure to report. Staff members will ignore the signs of abuse, but they have a legal responsibility to report abuse. Nursing homes that allow abuse to continue should be held liable. 

Discovering abuse is disturbing, but you cannot let emotions overwhelm you. Get your loved one to a safe place and contact our Arlington nursing home physical abuse lawyers immediately. 

Bedsores

The most common sign of physical abuse or neglect is bedsores, also called pressure ulcers or decubitus ulcers. These injuries are dangerous without treatment and can get worse. When the person’s skin is in contact with a surface like a bed or a chair without mobility for an extended period, the pressure can lead to injury. 

Some nursing home residents are vulnerable to bedsores because they are immobile and need assistance. Caregivers must adjust the resident to prevent excessive pressure. When they fail to move patients, the pressure will stop circulation to specific areas leading to sepsis, septic shock, and painful sores. 

Slip and Falls

Nursing home residents are immobile or need help walking and moving around. Medications, dementia, Alzheimer’s, and malnutrition can also impact their lack of mobility. These factors can lead to a higher likelihood of slips and falls. 

Nursing home staff should identify individual risk factors and find ways to prevent slips and falls. Sometimes staff will identify these risk factors and intentionally not do anything to avoid them or intentionally put residents in harm’s way. If the nursing home resident falls due to negligence, the staff or faculty can be liable for the incident. 

Sexual Abuse

Residents with cognitive issues are more susceptible to sexual abuse. They also find it harder to report or speak to family members about these incidents. Loved ones can look for signs of sexual abuse, like unexplained bleeding or cuts, especially near private areas. 

Fear of other residents or staff members is also an indicator of sexual abuse. Nursing home facilities cannot allow sexual abuse to start or continue and should have a safe environment for their residents. If they hire predatory employees, the facility is liable for emotional and physical injuries inflicted by these parties. 

Malnutrition

Part of the services nursing homes provide are nutrition and hydration. These are essential to the well-being of residents. Some nursing home residents have special dietary needs that must be followed. 

Staff must also provide adequate nutrition when administering medication so the resident does not suffer extreme side effects. Malnutrition and dehydration can lead to many other problems like an increased risk of infection, bedsores, or slips and falls. 

Medical Malpractice

Medication and medical treatment are the primary services that nursing homes provide. When there is a medication error or a lapse in administering the medication, it can be medical malpractice. 

Medication must be given at the correct time and dosage. Injuries and death can happen from medication errors. Additionally, any medical procedures doctors conduct can cause injury and death. 

Medical malpractice is due to inexperience or neglect, and your nursing home’s physical abuse lawyers can review the factors to determine the cause and liability. 

Death

Nursing homes must respond to and address the medical concerns of the resident. When a resident is in dire need of emergency care outside the capacity of the faulty, they should immediately contact emergency services for transport to a nearby hospital. Neglecting to take these actions can lead to death, which has happened in many cases already. 

If a resident dies from failure to administer care or suspicious circumstances causing death, the facility and staff can be held liable. Ongoing physical abuse can also lead to death. Nursing home resident abuse must be thoroughly investigated by a nursing home physical abuse attorney in Arlington, TN.

Recovering Compensation After Nursing Home Abuse in Arlington

Physical abuse manifests in many ways, and when you notice your loved one is showing signs that someone is mistreating them, you should take legal action. Various reporting agencies can investigate the facility and make changes. However, to seek compensation for your losses, you should speak to an Arlington nursing home physical abuse lawyer. 

Economic and non-economic damages are available depending on the circumstances surrounding the abuse. Some compensatory damages victims can recover are:

• Medical bills 
• Future medical bills related to the injuries 
• Therapy services
• Pain and suffering 
• Emotional or mental anguish 
• Costs of changing facilities

Suffering physical abuse also increases the risk of death in older adults. Aside from a legal claim, the facility must also deal with the consequences of the state and federal agencies that oversee them. These authorities can take away licenses and close facilities if abuse is rampant. 

Do not fear hiring an Arlington nursing home physical abuse attorney or taking action against the facility. They owe your loved one a standard of care, and when they fail, you have the right to seek compensation. 

Call Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi, PLC, Today

Nursing home residents deserve to live safe and enjoyable lives when entering long-term care facilities. When caregivers, staff, or administrators do not uphold their pledges and responsibilities, it can lead to severe injury or death. Negligent parties can also face criminal charges depending on the severity of the physical abuse. 

You have many legal options after nursing home abuse. Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi, PLC, have been helping injury victims for decades. If your loved one suffers physical abuse in an Arlington nursing home, call our office for an initial consultation.