It is never easy to admit a loved one into a nursing home, but it helps when you can depend on the facility to provide the highest level of professional care. If the nursing home instead engages in or permits abusive behavior, it is an egregious and unforgivable violation of your trust.
You have the right to seek justice on behalf of your loved one and your family. The abusers may face criminal charges, and the facility could face sanctions on its license. Our Chagrin Falls nursing home abuse lawyers will help you hold them civilly liable for the hardships they caused.
Our legal team at Shore Law has recovered more than $250 million in awards and settlements for injured victims and their families. Call today for your free consultation, and learn how our Chagrin Falls personal injury lawyers can assist with your nursing home abuse case.
How Our Chagrin Falls Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers Can Help
If you suspect nursing home abuse involving a family member, it is important to tell someone. Some people worry about causing trouble if they are wrong. The truth is, good nursing homes run by conscientious professionals want to know about your concerns so they can take action.
Our Chagrin Falls nursing home abuse attorneys can help you bring the abuse to light the right way while protecting your loved one and holding the abusers accountable. While every case is different, some of the things we may do include:
- Protect Your Rights: We’ll offer our best advice and help you handle the allegations in a way that maintains your right to pursue legal action.
- Investigate the Abuse: We’ll review medical records, progress notes, care plans, and other evidence to find out exactly what happened. We will also do a forensic audit of the records for false or late charting and cover-ups.
- Identify the Abusers: We’ll identify every staff member who may have contributed to the abuse, as well as the extent to which the facility allowed it.
- Calculate Your Compensation: We will review the hardships caused by the abusers and seek damages such as medical expenses, pain and suffering, and the cost of moving to another facility.
- Negotiate for a Settlement: Nursing homes and their ownership often prefer to settle cases out of court. We’ll work to recover full compensation for your family.
- Represent You in Court: If necessary, we will take your case to civil court and fight for justice for your loved one.
Signs of Nursing Home Abuse
Even when you believe a facility is doing everything right, it is important to watch for signs of nursing home abuse. Some key things to look for include:
- Bed sores develop when residents are not properly repositioned or cared for.
- Frequent falls can result from inadequate supervision or unsafe living conditions.
- Fear, withdrawal, or anxiety caused may indicate emotional abuse.
- Dehydration, weight loss, and malnutrition.
- Sepsis due to untreated infections like urinary tract infections.
- Choking due to improper dietary management.
- Abnormal lab values.
- Medical neglect can mean worsening health conditions due to a lack of necessary care.
- Unexplained withdrawals, missing belongings, or unauthorized changes to documents could be a sign of financial abuse.
- Physical abuse may cause visible injuries from hitting, rough handling, or restraints.
- Poor hygiene, dehydration, and malnutrition are indications of a failure to provide essential daily care.
How to Report Nursing Home Abuse in Ohio
Our nursing home abuse lawyers in Chagrin Falls can help you understand how to report abuse. If you witness any situation where a resident is in immediate danger, call 911 to dispatch emergency personnel to the home. In non-emergency circumstances, you can:
Inform the Administrator
Advising the facility administrator may help, and in Ohio, they are required to report cases of suspected abuse to the Ohio Department of Health. The administrator may also launch an internal investigation to determine whether staff adhered to policies.
Involve the Ombudsman
Your long-term care ombudsman may help as well. These are trained resident advocates who offer support and investigate allegations of abuse and neglect. If they believe abuse has occurred, they can make an official report to the Department of Health.
Contact the Department of Health
You can make a complaint to the Ohio Department of Health yourself, and they will investigate it under their Abuse, Neglect, Misappropriation, and Exploitation program. The Department of Health is responsible for licensing and supervising nursing homes in the state.
Get Help From Our Chagrin Falls Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys
Nursing home abuse can occur for many reasons. Sometimes it’s due to the actions of only a few staff members, while in other circumstances it could be because of poor policies and training for the entire facility. In some cases, it is a result of a toxic culture.
No nursing home resident should ever endure abuse or neglect at the hands of the professionals who are supposed to protect and care for them. Our Chagrin Falls nursing home abuse attorneys will investigate the abuse and hold the facility or its staff accountable.
At Shore Law, we’re Focused on Clients and Driven by Results. Your consultation is free, and because we work on a contingency fee basis, we only get paid once we win your case. Call today and tell us about your nursing home abuse concerns.
