Learning that a loved one may have suffered from sexual abuse in a nursing home can be devastating. You may feel angry, guilty, confused, or unsure of what to do next.
Sexual abuse of older adults and people with disabilities is a serious form of abuse, and it can be hard to recognize. If you suspect abuse, you do not have to handle it alone. A Milwaukee nursing home sexual abuse lawyer can help protect your loved one, investigate what happened, and explain your legal options.
At Shore Law, we understand how difficult these cases can be for families. Our team has recovered more than $250 million for clients. We offer compassionate guidance while taking the steps needed to seek answers and accountability. Get in touch with our firm to speak to a Milwaukee nursing home abuse lawyer.
Recognizing the Signs of Sexual Abuse in a Nursing Home
Sexual abuse does not always leave an obvious sign. Sometimes, the first warning is a change in how your loved one acts around other people. Possible signs can include:
- Unexplained bruising or injuries.
- Injuries around the genital or breast area.
- Torn, stained, or damaged clothing.
- Unexplained sexually transmitted infections.
- Sudden fear of a caregiver.
- Withdrawal from family or friends.
- New anxiety, agitation, or sadness.
- Changes in sleeping or eating habits.
- Fear of being alone with a certain person.
- Sudden changes in behavior.
These signs do not always mean sexual abuse occurred. They can have other causes. But they should not be ignored, especially when several changes happen at once. If something does not feel right, trust that instinct. You do not need to have all the answers before asking for help from a Milwaukee personal injury lawyer.
Who Can Be Held Responsible?
Sexual abuse in a nursing home may involve more than one person. The person who committed the abuse may be responsible, but the facility may also face questions about whether it took reasonable steps to protect residents.
- Nursing home staff: A CNA, nurse, aide, or other employee may be responsible if they sexually abuse a resident. The facility may also face liability depending on what it knew and whether it followed proper safety procedures.
- Other residents: In some cases, another resident may have abused someone. The nursing home may need to answer questions about whether it knew of a risk and took reasonable steps to protect residents.
- Visitors or contractors: Visitors, maintenance workers, medical providers, or other people who enter a facility may have access to residents. Their actions may need to be investigated if abuse is suspected.
- The nursing home: A facility may be responsible for negligent hiring, poor supervision, failure to respond to warning signs, or failure to properly investigate and report suspected abuse. Wisconsin requires nursing homes to report allegations of abuse and other serious incidents under state and federal requirements.
Shore Law can investigate the people and companies involved to help determine how the abuse happened and whether the facility failed to protect your loved one.
Your Legal Rights as a Survivor or Family Member in Milwaukee
Wisconsin law gives nursing home residents the right to be treated with respect and dignity and to be free from physical and mental abuse. A civil claim is separate from a criminal investigation. Even if law enforcement is investigating the alleged abuse, a survivor or their legal representative may have a separate legal claim against responsible parties.
Depending on the facts, compensation may include:
- Medical expenses.
- Counseling or therapy costs.
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Costs related to moving to another facility.
- Other losses caused by the abuse.
- Punitive damages in cases where the law allows them.
The legal process should also respect your loved one’s privacy and dignity. At Shore Law, we understand that these cases involve deeply personal information. We work to handle sensitive evidence carefully and treat survivors and their families with compassion.
What to Do If You Suspect Sexual Abuse
If you believe your loved one may have been sexually abused, taking action can help protect them and preserve important evidence, which can be essential if you decide to move forward legally. Here are the steps that we recommend:
1. Make Sure Your Loved One Is Safe
If the person may still be in danger, focus on getting them somewhere safe. If there is an immediate threat or medical emergency, call 911.
2. Seek Medical Care
A medical evaluation can address your loved one’s health needs and may help preserve evidence. Let the medical provider know why you are concerned.
3. Report the Concern to the Nursing Home Itself
Consider reporting the suspected abuse to the nursing home’s administrator in writing. Keep a copy of what you send and any response you receive, as it may be useful if you move forward with a claim.
4. Contact the Proper Authorities
Wisconsin Adult Protective Services accepts reports of suspected abuse involving older adults and adults at risk. The state also allows people to report concerns about abuse and caregiver misconduct to the Department of Health Services. If the suspected abuse is an emergency or involves immediate danger, Wisconsin DHS advises calling 911 or law enforcement.
5. Talk to a Lawyer
Consider speaking with a Milwaukee nursing home sexual abuse lawyer before giving detailed statements to the facility or its insurance company. A lawyer can help protect and advocate for your loved one’s interests while the facts are investigated.
How Shore Law Can Help With a Milwaukee Nursing Home Sexual Abuse Case
These cases often require more than interviewing witnesses. Important evidence may be hidden in medical records, staffing records, electronic systems, and other facility files. At Shore Law, here are the things we can do to help:
Investigating Records and Facility Systems
We can seek records that may help explain what happened, including medical records, staffing information, incident reports, and electronic records. We have the knowledge to know how to review records and metadata for signs of misconduct. That experience can help us ask better questions and look closely at the evidence.
Handling the Legal Process
You should not have to spend your time dealing with the facility, insurance companies, paperwork, and legal questions while trying to support your loved one.
Shore Law can handle the investigation, communicate with the parties involved, gather evidence, and work toward a resolution while keeping your family’s needs in mind.
Protecting Your Loved One’s Dignity
We know these cases involve private and painful experiences. Our goal is to seek answers and accountability without losing sight of the person at the center of the case.
Contact a Compassionate Milwaukee Nursing Home Sexual Abuse Law Firm Today
You trusted someone else to care for your loved one. Finding out that this trust may have been broken can leave you feeling angry, hurt, and unsure of where to turn. You do not have to face those feelings or the legal process alone.
Shore Law has 40 years of combined experience. We understand how important it is to look beyond the surface and examine the records, people, and systems involved in your loved one’s care.
If you suspect nursing home sexual abuse, reach out today for a free, confidential consultation with a Milwaukee nursing home sexual abuse attorney. We can listen to your concerns, explain your options, and help you decide what steps to take next.
