A nursing home should be a safe place for the elderly or infirm to receive the supportive care they require.
Dempsey Kingsland & Osteen holds elder care facilities accountable if a loved one was injured through neglect, abuse, or medical negligence.
Our Kansas City nursing home negligence lawyers have the background in medical malpractice and nursing home litigation to demonstrate how your family member was mistreated.
We have secured settlements and verdicts on behalf of victims throughout Missouri and Kansas. To get started, please contact us today.
Has your loved one suffered decline in health due to nursing home negligence? It's time to get justice. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation. Let us fight for you and your family.
contact usNursing Home Negligence, Neglect, & Abuse
Open sores. Unexplained bruises or fractures. Loss of weight or appetite. Sudden depression, silence, or personality change.
There may be valid explanations for these symptoms relating to age or disease, or these may be signs of poor care or abuse.
At Dempsey Kingsland & Osteen, we investigate all types of nursing home negligence resulting in physical injury, wrongful death, or other compensable harm.
We can help you if your loved one was affected by:
- Advanced stage bedsores (pressure ulcers)
- Malnutrition and dehydration
- Undiagnosed medical conditions
- Medication errors or overmedication
- Falls from bed or from walking without assistance
- Excessive restraint or physical abuse
- Emotional abuse and punishment
- Wandering off the premises
- Assault/sexual assault by staff, visitors, or residents
Some types of elder neglect, such as falls, may go unreported by nursing home staff. Nursing home negligence often stems from understaffing, unqualified staff, poor medical supervision, and sloppy administration.
Our experienced nursing home negligence lawyers in Kansas City secure medical records, check the criminal backgrounds of employees and managers, and research health code violations and similar claims of abuse or neglect.
See what our clients have to say about our services:
Nursing Home Abuse is a Widespread Problem
For elderly people living in nursing homes, abuse is an unfortunate reality. According to the Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA), more than 40% of nursing home residents have reported that they suffered abuse.
This problem becomes worse when you consider that many elderly nursing home residents don’t have the tools to advocate for their own well-being.
Nursing home residents can have trouble communicating, or fear retaliation from staff for reporting abuse.
By adequately understanding nursing home abuse and the signs and symptoms of abuse, you can speak up for your family members who may not be able to do so themselves.
What Is Nursing Home Abuse?
Nursing home abuse can take on many forms. The most common types of abuse seen in a nursing home include:
- Physical: Physical abuse in a nursing home can involve assault, shoving, hitting, using restraints to keep the patient from moving, or not providing proper medicine or nutrition.
- Emotional: Emotional or psychological abuse inflicts pain in a non-physical way. This can include harassment, humiliation, threats, intimidation, and isolation.
- Financial: Financial abuse is the illegal or improper using of the victim’s personal assets or property. This can take the form of stealing, coercing signatures to documents, or abusing the benefits of a power of attorney.
- Neglect: Some estimates claim that 90% of nursing home residents suffer from neglect. This is defined as failing to care adequately for the elderly, so they can live a comfortable life.
As you can see, there are a lot of forms of nursing home abuse. It is important that you recognize the signs of these types of abuse so that you can make sure your family member is safe.
Signs of Nursing Home Abuse
Elderly nursing home residents may not be able to communicate the signs of their abuse. Check on your elderly family member and see if they are exhibiting any of the signs below because they may be suffering abuse.
- Physical Abuse: A nursing home resident may be suffering from physical abuse if they have unexplained bruising, or broken bones, signs of restraints on the wrists, and are afraid of certain staff members or fellow residents.
- Emotional Abuse: Signs of emotional abuse include depression, fear of particular staff members or fellow residents, and changes in mood.
- Financial Abuse: Your elderly family member may be suffering from financial exploitation if their belongings are missing, there are unexplained transfers of money from their bank accounts, sudden changes to their will or other financial and legal documents.
- Neglect: Nursing home residents may be suffering from neglect if you notice dehydration, unsanitary living conditions, malnutrition, or untreated bedsores.
These are only some of the signs of the most common forms of abuse. Do your best to listen to the nursing home residents in your family to ensure that they’re being taken care of properly. If you think your family member is being abused, please reach out to our lawyers.
Call (816) 484-3776 for a free case evaluation or contact us online to discuss your possible claim.
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