Copperas Cove Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
When families make the tough decision to place their loved ones in the care of a nursing home, an assisted living center, or a long-term care facility, they trust that these family members will receive respect and a high level of care. Yet, sadly, nursing home abuse and neglect are common statewide.
This mistreatment can leave a retirement home resident with lasting physical and psychological damage but taking immediate action can help. Reporting the abuse, alerting the authorities, and reaching out to a skilled injury attorney can allow you to hold the facility accountable and recover compensation for your loved one’s suffering. If you need help with a case, call a Copperas Cove nursing home abuse lawyer to schedule a meeting.
Various Types of Nursing Home Mistreatment
Nursing home abuse and neglect will usually fall into five categories, including:
Physical Abuse
Physical abuse is the most common mistreatment that residents experience in nursing homes or senior care facilities. It can lead to serious injuries and emotional trauma.
Emotional Abuse
Nursing home residents are also vulnerable to emotional abuse. For instance, a manipulative staff member might use threats, insults, or humiliation to control a senior citizen and harm them.
Neglect
Meanwhile, neglect occurs when the resident suffers injuries or illness because they are not receiving the proper care. If someone is left in bed for a long time, for example, they might develop bedsores or become malnourished.
Financial Abuse
Financial abuse occurs when a caregiver uses their power to gain access to a retirement home resident’s finance. This may lead to fraud, stealing valuable property, or pressuring residents to relinquish control of their credit.
Sexual Abuse
Finally, sexual abuse occurs when a nursing home resident faces any unwanted sexual contact. Many elderly are more susceptible to this form of abuse because they suffer from mental impairments. Sexual assault can have serious physical and mental repercussions, affecting a senior for years.
After any of these types of abuse, a compassionate Copperas Cove attorney can help a nursing home resident or their family prove mistreatment and begin the civil case process.
The Signs of Potential Nursing Home Abuse
Detecting abuse or mistreatment at a nursing home is often a unique challenge. However, there are many signs of abuse to watch for in a senior citizen, including but not limited to:
- Pressure ulcers or bedsores
- Malnutrition or dehydration
- Lacerations or cuts
- Lack of personal hygiene
- Broken or fractured bones
- Sudden changes in behavior such as anxiety or aggression
- Wandering and elopement
- Unexplained missing money
If a family member sees any of these signs and suspects that a loved one is being mistreated in a retirement community, they should act as quickly as possible. A proactive and experienced lawyer in Copperas Cove can begin investigating these signs of nursing home abuse and factoring them into a claim for compensation.
What Are a Nursing Home’s Staffing Requirements?
State laws require that nursing homes and long-term care facilities have adequate staff members to provide a high level of care and meet all residents’ needs. Under the 26 Texas Administrative Code § 554.1002, for instance, nursing home facilities must have a minimum of one caregiver for 20 residents.
Facilities must ensure they sufficiently train caregivers to give the highest level of mental and physical care. Failure to do this might result in neglect, unintentional abuse, or intentional mistreatment. Thankfully, diligent Copperas Cove attorney can investigate any instances of negligent staffing and help a nursing home resident seek justice for abuse.
Meet With a Skilled Nursing Home Abuse Attorney in Copperas Cove
When you trust a retirement community or nursing home staff to care for your loved one and they abuse this trust, the results can be devastating. Seniors and those with mental disabilities might require round-the-clock care, which makes them uniquely vulnerable. These people deserve to live their final years with dignity, respect, and the highest quality of care.
If you need help investigating a retirement center and determining whether you have a case, contact a compassionate and hardworking Copperas Cave nursing home abuse lawyer. Our team can listen to your concerns and help you hold the negligent parties accountable.
