About Nursing Home Abuse, Injury & Neglect - Lawyer Serving Texas, Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Nevada, Georgia, Arizona, Tennessee, Washington, and Pennsylvania
Just as the demand for in-home and residential care services for elderly citizens has increased over the last few decades, so too have reports of injury, neglect, and abuse within nursing homes, residential facilities, and group homes. Statistics indicate that seniors are becoming increasingly vulnerable to abuse at the hands of nursing home staff, residential caregivers, and even professionals entrusted with their financial interests and medical care.
The nursing home injury attorneys of Marian S. Rosen & Associates have handled more than 200 lawsuits involving nursing home neglect in Texas and across the U.S. Marian S. Rosen, premier nursing home abuse lawyer, has a thorough understanding of elder law in Texas and other states, including Colorado, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, and Florida.
If you or someone you know has been injured in a residential care facility, contact a nursing home negligence lawyer with the firm of Marian S. Rosen & Associates today.
Nursing Home Malpractice Defined
Wrongful Death from Nursing Home Injury, Abuse, and Neglect
Nursing Home Malpractice Defined
Nursing home malpractice is a broad term used to describe the intentional or unintentional harm of an elderly person - set in the context of a residential facility. Nursing home malpractice can be broken down into the following categories: nursing home abuse, nursing home neglect, and nursing home injury. Texas attorney Marian S. Ross has provided a general overview of nursing home malpractice below:
*What constitutes mistreatment of the elderly will vary by each state. A nursing home injury lawyer from our Texas firm is available to discuss elder law in your home state.
Nursing Home Neglect - Texas and Elsewhere
Elderly neglect is defined as a failure by a caregiver to attend to the physical, medical, or emotional needs of an elderly person. Within a nursing home, neglect often occurs when staff is not trained to adequately perform their job or when staff is overburdened. If you suspect that resident staff or caregivers have neglected a member of your family, a nursing home neglect lawyer at our Texas firm can help you pursue legal action.
Physical neglect:
Physical neglect occurs when caregivers fail to meet the basic physical needs of elderly residents, including proper hygiene (washing and toiletry). Poor hygiene can lead to skin conditions like bedsores, also referred to as pressure ulcers. Physical neglect can also include a failure to reposition the body and respond to calls for assistance, or a failure to assist with basic activities like drinking and eating. More severe forms of nursing home neglect can result in malnutrition, dehydration, and pressure ulcers.
Medical neglect:
Medical neglect can include failure on the part of the staff to provide adequate contact with medical professionals, failure to treat an existing illness or medical condition, failure to dispense or appropriate needed medication, or failing to monitor the overall health of nursing home residents.
Emotional neglect:
Emotional neglect includes instances where staff fails to provide comfort or fails to include residents in group activities - thereby isolating them from other residents.
View brief descriptions of nursing home neglect lawsuit recoveries in Texas and other states handled by the firm of Marian S. Rosen & Associates.
Nursing Home Injury - Texas and Other States
Sometimes the negligence or inaction of nursing home staff can contribute to the injury of elderly residents. The nursing home injury lawyers at our Texas firm handle cases where neglect has led to broken bones, pressure (decubitus) ulcers, dehydration, and other preventable injury. In many cases, these types of injuries are simply the result of age; however, they are often caused by carelessness or negligence on the part of the nursing home staff. To find out if an injury was the result of negligence or neglect, contact a nursing home negligence lawyer at the Texas firm of Marian S. Rosen & Associates.
The following are types of nursing home injury that may be attributed to neglect:
Fractures:
Unfortunately, fractures from falls are commonplace at nursing homes. In some cases, falls may simply be a consequence of advanced age; but there are a variety of medical and vision problems that would make falling more likely for an elderly resident and necessitate increased supervision from nursing home staff. These problems might include anything from dizziness caused by prescription medications to the effects of Parkinson's or Alzheimer's Disease. View more information about a nursing home injury lawsuit recovery in Texas and other states that resulted from a fractured hip caused by neglect.
Bedsores:
Also known as pressure ulcers or decubitus ulcers, bedsores are discolorations of the skin that, if left untreated, often develop into serious wounds. Bedsores can be an early indication of improper care - when nursing home staff fails to notice or treat bedsores this may be considered negligent inaction, or neglect. View nursing home injury lawsuit recoveries in Texas and other states dealing with pressure ulcers (decubitus ulcers).
Bed injuries:
When elderly nursing home residents are confined to a bed, injuries often occur due to lack of proper supervision. If a mattress is not properly secured to a bed frame or side rails do not expand to fit a bed, an elderly resident weakened by age or illness may become trapped or may fall out of the bed. This would be considered nursing home neglect under the law in Texas or any of the other states Marian S. Rosen & Associates practice in.
Dehydration/Malnutrition:
Neglect is generally the cause of dehydration and malnutrition in nursing homes. Dehydration can cause rapid deterioration in otherwise healthy nursing home residents and may also cause confusion and dizziness, which can lead to falls. Elderly residents who are unable to obtain their own food and water are susceptible to dehydration and malnutrition.
If you believe someone you know may have been injured as a result of negligence, contact a nursing home injury lawyer at the Texas firm of Marian S. Rosen & Associates.
Nursing Home Abuse - Texas and Other States
Each year, there are thousands of reports filed by elderly citizens nationwide alleging intentional abuse at the hands of caregivers and nursing home staff. The most prevalent form of nursing home abuse is physical abuse, but elderly residents often fall victim to sexual abuse, psychological abuse, and abusive forms of punishment.
If you suspect that someone you know may be the victim of physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, a nursing home abuse lawyer at our Texas firm may be able to help.
Physical Abuse:
Victims of physical abuse in nursing homes may be subjected to hitting, slapping, shaking, kicking, physical restraint, or other intentional acts of harm. It is important to file a police report immediately if you suspect physical nursing home abuse or if an elderly friend or family member reports any form of physical abuse.
Sexual Abuse:
Though shocking, sexual abuse and unwanted touching at nursing homes is a reality. Sexual abuse is of particular concern for elderly residents who are incapable of giving consent. Because incidents of sexual abuse are extremely difficult to detect, it is important to contact a nursing home injury abuse lawyer at our Texas firm if you suspect that someone you know has been victimized by a nursing home staff member, resident, or visitor.
Psychological/Emotional Abuse:
From intimidation to humiliation, psychological abuse at nursing homes can be devastating for elderly individuals, often bringing on depression, withdrawal, and even dementia. Emotional abuse may consist of yelling, harassment, insults, and other verbal cruelty - including the silent treatment.
Abusive forms of punishment:
Elderly nursing home residents are often subject to punishment tactics that are both unreasonable and abusive. Nursing home staff may punish what they deem bad behavior by withholding food and water, using physical restraints, or even overmedicating residents. These forms of punishment are unacceptable and should be reported to a nursing home abuse lawyer at our Texas firm immediately.
Visit our resources page to view several elderly abuse and nursing home negligence website links provided by Marian S. Rosen, nursing home neglect lawyer in Texas.
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Wrongful Death - Elderly Abuse & Neglect in Texas and Other States
Because elderly residents of nursing homes are physically and emotionally vulnerable, when they fall victim to incidents or patterns of abuse and neglect, it may go unreported until it is too late. If you suspect that abuse or neglect may have contributed to the death of an elderly friend or family member, it is important to consult with an experienced nursing home neglect lawyer. Contact Texas negligence lawyer Marian S. Rosen today.
Marian S. Rosen & Associates handles wrongful death lawsuits arising from nursing home abuse, nursing home injury, and nursing home neglect. Lawyer Marian Rosen and her Texas associates will represent elderly victims and their family members residing anywhere in the United States.
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