There are thousands of Germantown residents living in nursing homes. Unfortunately, some of these individuals suffer from nursing home abuse or neglect. Others suffered these experiences in the past and have yet to be compensated for their damages.
Whether you are currently being abused or you were abused in the past, a Germantown nursing home abuse & neglect lawyer from Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi PLC can assist you in filing a claim against the nursing home’s management. Explore your legal options further with our personal injury law firm backing you up.
Elder Abuse Is a Serious Issue
According to the Office for Victims of Crime, elder abuse is any knowing, intentional, or negligent action that causes direct or indirect harm to an elderly adult. This abuse is usually carried out by a trusted figure, such as a family member, caretaker, or guardian. A vast range of behaviors can qualify as elder abuse, including nursing home abuse and neglect.
Elder Abuse and Neglect in Nursing Homes
People who are residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities are typically elderly adults with heightened levels of vulnerability. Because they are more vulnerable than other adults, it is common for trusted people to mistreat and mishandle them. In many cases, these victims cannot communicate or understand what is happening to them, so the instances of abuse go unreported for relatively long periods.
International studies have found that staff commonly commit elder abuse in institutional facilities across the world. A U.S. study that interviewed the family members of nursing home residents even discovered that 74% to 87% of nursing home residents experienced some form of abuse or neglect within the year prior to the study being performed. It is important to note that the number of respondents was low for this specific survey question. Still, considering the responses that were given, this is a shocking revelation to many.
Another report found that 40% of the surveyed staff members self-reported engaging in psychologically abusive behavior toward residents. In the same study, 10% self-reported that they had perpetrated physical abuse against the residents they were responsible for. It should be clear that nursing home abuse and neglect are prevalent throughout the United States. You should not hesitate to contact a nursing home abuse & neglect lawyer in Germantown, TN if you or a loved one has been the victim of such abuse.
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The Consequences of Elder Abuse in Nursing Homes
Being abused or neglected has major detrimental effects on the physical, psychological, emotional, and sometimes financial health of victims.
Psychological Consequences
A range of psychological consequences can arise following ongoing nursing home abuse or neglect. When vulnerable people are taunted, tormented, physically abused, sexually abused, or subjected to another form of abuse or neglect, they commonly develop one or more of the following conditions:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Fear of retaliation
- Fear of losing their place in the nursing home
- Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
- Lowered self-esteem
- Shame
- Embarrassment
- Hopelessness
- Loneliness
Physical Consequences
Many instances of nursing home abuse involve physical violence. Punching, kicking, pushing, shoving, choking, and other acts of violence may be used by staff members or abusive residents. These violent acts can have major consequences that may be short-term or long-term in nature.
There are several potential forms of harm that may occur.
- Bruising
- Cuts
- Bone breaks
- Internal organ damage
- Infections
- Catastrophic injuries
Amongst the worst physical consequences are those caused by long-term neglect. After being deprived of proper care for a long time, victims of neglect can suffer:
- Poor hygiene
- Malnutrition
- Decreased body weight
- Bedsores
- Heart problems
- High blood pressure
- Bone and joint problems
- Digestive issues
- Chronic pain
- Death
The Center for Victim Research even cites research that shows that older adults who suffered abuse are at a 300% higher risk of dying within a 7-year period when compared to individuals who have not been victimized.
Financial Consequences
Some people use their authority over elderly nursing home residents to steal from them or exploit them financially. This can impact their credit and deplete their personal assets. In extreme cases, the victims can even lose their homes, valuable property, and invested assets. As of 2009, the annual losses of elder financial abuse have been estimated to be around 2.9 billion dollars.
When a person is robbed at this vulnerable stage of life, they rarely have the opportunity to return to work to recover their assets. Therefore, taking both civil and criminal action against the culprit may be the only way to get compensation for the consequences of financial elder abuse in nursing homes. A Germantown nursing home abuse & neglect attorney at Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi PLC can help you get started with the process of holding these criminals accountable for their illegal actions.
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Demand Justice After Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect in Germantown
Whether you report your concerns of nursing home abuse and neglect to the Tennessee Adult Protective Services, the Tennessee Department of Health, or the Germantown Police Department, there are multiple ways in which you can demand justice.
When you report your completes to these government agencies, they will open up investigations. In doing so, the nursing home facility and abusers may face criminal charges, and sanctions, or could even be shut down.
You may have the right to file a medical malpractice claim for nursing home abuse and neglect. Whether you file a claim with the insurance company or bring your case to trial, you have an opportunity to recover the compensation your family member is entitled to. Some of the most common types of recoverable damages in a nursing home abuse and neglect case could include:
- Physical pain
- Emotional trauma
- Embarrassment
- Indignity
- Scarring
- Shock
- Fear
- Anticipation
- Disfigurement
- Financial losses
- Mental anguish
- Loss of support
- Loss of consortium
- Reduced quality of life
It is also possible punitive damages could be awarded if the nursing home facility or abuser has previously been the subject of investigations, has repeated allegations of nursing home abuse or neglect, or is otherwise shown to have engaged in intentional, grossly negligent, or reprehensible conduct.
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Do Not Face These Consequences Alone
With so many consequences at hand, the prospect of holding anyone accountable for your damages may seem daunting. Fortunately, a nursing home abuse & neglect attorney in Germantown, TN can help you file a claim against the party that harmed you or your elderly loved one. In most cases, this is nursing home management.
Through a legal claim, you stand to recover damages that are representative of any losses you or your loved one incurred. This includes economic damages, which are financial losses like medical bills, lost assets, and nursing home fees. It also includes non-economic damages, such as loss of enjoyment of life, the onset of a psychological disorder, and emotional distress.
An attorney will deepen your understanding of how your rights have been violated and what you can do to recover compensation for your damages. They will also estimate your total damages, so you can determine how much compensation may be due. To speak with a lawyer who can represent you, contact Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi PLC by using the contact form on this page.