Nursing homes are generally responsible for the care, or lack of care, that residents receive. If your loved one was abused or otherwise mistreated in a nursing home in Spring Hill, then they could be entitled to compensation for the harm that they have suffered. Individual staffers, administrators, board members, and owners of a nursing home may be among those who could be liable for mistreatment of your loved one.
You may hire a Spring Hill nursing home abuse lawyer to manage your loved one’s case for compensation. Call The Cochran Firm – Nashville today at (615) 651-7451 to find out how our team may be able to help you obtain the best possible outcome for your loved one.
Understaffing May Lead to Abuse
The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) explains how understaffing in nursing homes is a common and dangerous problem. Nursing homes may maintain too few staff at any given time as a cost-cutting measure, and this misguided attempt at pinching pennies could result in a greater risk of harm to your loved one.
Understaffing may lead to a number of clear threats to your loved one, including:
- That your loved one may not receive the hygienic care they require, which may cause bedsores and increased risk of infection
- That your loved one may not be assisted when eating or drinking, which could pose a risk of choking
- That your loved one may not receive their essential medications in a timely manner, or may not be properly assisted when taking their medications
- That your loved one may not be able to reach a staffer during a period of danger, or when they suffer an accident such as a fall
- That your loved one could be isolated in a way that harms their overall health
A lack of staffers may also leave your loved one vulnerable to abuse. Whether the perpetrator is a visitor, staffer, resident, or another category of individual, understaffing may leave your loved one largely unattended, and potentially at risk of being abused.
Know the Signs of Abuse
If you are not already aware of a loved one’s abuse, then you may benefit from knowing the indications of possible abuse. Even if you have already become aware of a loved one being abused in a nursing home setting, these signs may reinforce your loved one’s account of mistreatment.
The National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) notes three primary forms of elder abuse:
- Physical abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Emotional or psychological abuse
Your loved one may be the victim of multiple types of abuse, and the symptoms of each type of abuse could be similar. The NCEA notes that some of those symptoms may include:
- Bleeding or bruising around a loved one’s genitals or breasts
- Signs of physical trauma such as bruising, cuts, and burns
- Broken personal property, such as eyeglasses
- Unexplained changes in your loved one’s behavior
- Changes in your loved one’s demeanor that may indicate anxiety
- Concerning changes in your loved one’s appearance, which could include weight loss
- Signs that your loved one is not receiving regular hygienic care
Though an elderly loved one’s behavior and appearance may change as the result of aging, you may also be generally aware of changes that are not normal. If you observe any changes that concern you, then you may have reason to investigate further and ultimately bring legal action against anyone responsible for the mistreatment of your loved one.
A Spring Hill nursing home abuse lawyer may be able to help you pursue any compensation that your loved one should be entitled to. Call The Cochran Firm – Nashville today at (615) 651-7451 for more details about how we may seek justice for your loved one.
For a free legal consultation with a nursing home abuse lawyer serving Spring Hill, call 615-651-7451
The Potential Benefits of Hiring a Lawyer
As an adult with a loved one living in a nursing home or other community setting, it may not be reasonable for you to handle all of the responsibilities of a lawsuit on your own. You may have a job to complete every day, children to raise, and countless other duties on your plate. A lawyer may be able to handle any necessary legal action so that your life is not materially affected by a lawsuit.
A lawyer may generally handle as much of your lawsuit as possible. This may include drafting and filing the lawsuit itself, as well as taking other actions required to complete your lawsuit in a way that they feel presents a strong case for your loved one.
Some of the specific duties of your lawyer may include:
- Forming the argument against all of the parties responsible for your loved one’s mistreatment
- Providing any evidence that supports the case against defendants in your loved one’s lawsuit
- Documenting your loved one’s injuries
- Calculating the total amount of losses that your loved one has suffered
- Negotiating a settlement for your loved one
- Completing a trial if no settlement emerges
A lawyer could hire experts in the field of elder abuse to help with your case. Every instance of elder abuse is unique, and your lawyer may take the steps necessary to complete your loved one’s case for justice.
Potential Damages for Your Loved One
If your loved one’s lawyer can secure a settlement or win a judgment, then your loved one may receive compensation covering:
- Their pain and suffering
- The cost of their time in a nursing home where mistreatment occurred
- The cost of medical care related to abuse or other mistreatment
- Expenses related to relocation
- Any other losses that have come from nursing home abuse
Your loved one may be entitled to a unique set of losses based on their specific circumstances of mistreatment.
Spring Hill Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Near Me 615-651-7451
Call the Cochran Firm – Nashville Today
Hiring a Spring Hill nursing home abuse lawyer may allow you to live your life as normally as possible while still seeking fair compensation for an abused loved one. Call The Cochran Firm – Nashville today at (615) 651-7451 for a free consultation about how we may assist you as the loved one of a victim of nursing home mistreatment.
Call or text 615-651-7451 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
