At our law firm, Slater & Zurz, we are deeply committed to protecting the rights of those affected by nursing home abuse in Columbus. Elder abuse can have a devastating impact on the health and well-being of your loved one. If you believe your family member has been the victim of abuse, we urge you to contact our Columbus nursing home abuse lawyers immediately.
Our nursing home lawyers will ensure your loved one is quickly removed from harm and receives the care and support they need to recover. We treat every nursing home abuse victim as a member of our own families and fight tirelessly to protect their rights. Our nursing home lawyers will aggressively pursue justice on your and your loved one’s behalf, holding the responsible party accountable for their actions.
Types of Nursing Home Abuse
The term “nursing home abuse” often brings to mind acts of emotional and physical abuse. However, several other forms of abuse can have devastating and lingering effects on the victim. Our team is proficient in identifying and addressing nursing home negligence, ensuring that responsible parties are held accountable. The most common types of elder abuse include:
Verbal and emotional abuse
The terms “verbal abuse” and “emotional abuse” are often used interchangeably. Though they are similar, there are a few distinct differences. Verbal abuse occurs when the caregiver uses words to hurt the victim or maintain power or control over them. Forms of verbal abuse include withholding, discounting, and countering. Emotional abuse uses tactics that hurt, mistreat, or manipulate the victim. Examples of emotional abuse include criticism, control, and humiliation.
Physical abuse
An intentional act that causes bodily harm to a victim is considered physical abuse. Acts of physical abuse include the following:
- Punching
- Kicking
- Slapping
- Shoving
- Restraining
- Using an object to cause physical harm
Financial abuse
Financial abuse occurs when a caregiver uses the financial resources of a victim for their own personal gain. Examples include stealing cash or jewelry, forging the victim’s signature on financial transactions, or forcing the victim to change their will to include the caregiver.
Sexual abuse
Sexual abuse is defined as any unwanted sexual contact that often involves force. The perpetrators of sexual abuse in a nursing home or assisted-living facility are typically staff members but may also include fellow residents or visitors within the facility.
Neglect
Nursing home neglect occurs when a caregiver fails to provide the proper care to a nursing home resident. The neglect can be either intentional or unintentional. Examples of elder neglect include:
- Leaving a resident unattended for an extended period
- Failing to provide sufficient food and water
- Not administering necessary medication to a resident
- Failing to assist with proper hygiene
- Allowing the resident to remain in unsafe or unsanitary conditions
Common indicators of neglect in a nursing home setting are malnutrition, dehydration, poor hygiene, and the development of bedsores.
Bedsores Causes and Treatment
Bedsores, also known as pressure ulcers, are injuries to the skin and tissue caused by prolonged pressure. They typically form on bony areas of the body, such as the hips, tailbone, heels, ankles, and elbows. If a bedsore is not promptly treated, it can lead to serious conditions, such as cellulitis, bone and joint infections, cancer, and sepsis. People with limited mobility, incontinence, poor nutrition or hydration, or bedridden are highly susceptible to bedsores.
Depending on the severity of the bedsore, it can take a few days to years to heal. In severe neglect cases, bedsores may never heal completely. Common treatments for pressure ulcers include eating a healthy diet, reducing pressure, keeping the wound clean, and performing surgery to remove, repair, or replace damaged tissue. As experienced attorneys, we recognize the signs of a victim of nursing home mistreatment and are prepared to take decisive legal action.
What to Do if You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse
Suspecting your loved one may be the victim of abuse is devastating. However, there are steps you can take to ensure your loved one’s safety and hold those responsible for the abuse accountable for their actions. For comprehensive legal support, contacting a skilled Columbus nursing home abuse attorney is a critical step in protecting your loved one’s rights and well-being.
Ensure your loved one’s safety
If you feel your loved one is in immediate danger, call 911 right away. If necessary, take steps to remove or transfer them from the facility.
Speak to your loved one
Talk to them about your suspicions and ask if they were harmed or feel threatened in any way. Unfortunately, many abused victims are embarrassed, so you may experience some resistance or hesitation from your loved one in discussing the matter.
Meet with the administrator of the facility
Request a meeting with the nursing home or assisted-living facility administrator to discuss your concerns and bring the abuse to their immediate attention.
Contact your local ombudsman
If you feel the situation will not be remedied by management, you can report your concerns to your state’s local ombudsman or another state agency that regulates elder care facilities. Long-term care ombudsmen are resident advocates who investigate allegations of abuse.
Speak with a Columbus Nursing Home Lawyer
Contact a knowledgeable and trusted lawyer to ensure your loved one’s rights and well-being are protected.
Our Columbus Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers Can Help
If you suspect nursing home abuse or any other form of elder abuse, we urge you to seek legal assistance immediately. Our Columbus Personal injury lawyers are genuinely concerned about your loved ones and will, first and foremost, take necessary action to ensure they are safe and healthy. We will thoroughly investigate the abuse and identify all who are responsible. Our dedicated legal team will aggressively pursue justice by holding them accountable for their actions. We will work diligently to recover damages on your loved one’s behalf so they receive the mental, emotional, and physical care they need to restore their health and dignity. You can reach us 24 hours a day, seven days a week, by calling (614)756-2714. In addition to seeking compensation for medical costs, our firm is dedicated to obtaining justice for the pain and suffering endured by victims of nursing home abuse
Signs and symptoms of nursing home abuse include:
- Bedsores
- Infections
- Cuts, bruises, and broken bones
- Fatigue or insomnia
- Poor personal hygiene
- Dehydration or malnutrition
- Anxiety, depression, or confusion
- Aggressive or violent behavior
- Suicidal thoughts
- Decreased self-confidence
- Unexplained financial transactions or losses
- Withdrawal from loved ones
For additional Frequently asked questions about nursing home abuse & neglect.