Nursing Home Abuse Attorney

Why Work With The Goldwater Law Firm on Your Nursing Home Abuse Case

The Goldwater Law Firm team has dedicated their careers to fighting for the injured and ensuring corporations can’t take advantage of vulnerable people and their families.

A Name You (and More Importantly, Defense Attorneys) Recognize

The Goldwater Law Firm is one of the most widely known firms nationwide. Our reputation precedes us. We have a history of results you can count on.

We Treat All Cases and Clients With Empathy

We know how scary and frustrating this situation is. We ensure that your team always treats you and your loved one with the empathy and care you deserve.

We Have a Decadeslong History of Fighting for Justice

The Goldwater Law Firm team has dedicated their careers to getting justice for injured and abused people across the nation. We only partner with firms that share this mission.

What a Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Can Do for You

A personal injury attorney will manage every aspect of your case, ensuring you have the strongest case for justice. You can expect your legal team to:

• Gather evidence
• Speak with your loved one and other involved parties
• Protect your loved one
• Report the abuse or neglect if you have not already
• Use our resource pool to build a robust case
• Determine the liable party(s)
• Fill out and file paperwork
• File a nursing home abuse or medical malpractice claim
• Negotiate for a fair settlement
• Manage deadlines
• Take your case to court if that is the best option for you

Your attorney will also be a support system, helping you navigate this process and ensuring you know what to expect.

Types of Nursing Home Abuse

While most people think of neglect and physical abuse when considering elder abuse, there are five different types of abuse that a nursing home or caretaker can inflict.

Physical Abuse

Physical abuse can include any unnecessary physical contact, including:

• Punching
• Hitting
• Spitting
• Burning
• Pinching
• Kicking
• Unnecessary physical or medical restraints
• Throwing things at a resident

Emotional Abuse

Many people don’t think emotional abuse is as dangerous as physical or sexual abuse. However, emotional abuse can lead to depression and anxiety, which are both serious conditions. Psychological abuse could include:

• Isolation
• Yelling at a resident
• Humiliating a resident
• Mocking a resident
• Insulting a resident
• Threatening a resident

Sexual Abuse

Nursing home sexual abuse is any nonconsensual sexual contact between a resident and a caregiver. This can be forced or coerced contact, such as unwanted touching, rape, groping, or sexual favors, or taking sexual photos of a resident or showing them pornography.

Financial Abuse

Financial abuse can include:

• Coercing or forcing an elderly person to change their will or power of attorney
• Stealing cash
• Writing blank checks
• Forcing an elderly person to write checks
• Stealing money from their bank account
• Billing for services not rendered

Neglect

Neglect can be intentional or unintentional and can include:

• Failing to give a resident food, water, or medications
• Not changing the resident’s clothing or bed linens
• Not regularly moving residents with mobility issues, which can lead to bedsores
• Failing to follow a fall prevention plan (e.g., attempting to move a resident without the help of another person)
• Accidentally isolating residents (e.g., not helping residents with mobility issues get to the cafeteria or activities room)
• Failing to help residents with mobility issues to and from the bathroom

Damages You Can Recover for Your Loved One’s Abuse or Neglect

We know you likely aren’t concerned about compensation at a time like this. However, filing a claim or lawsuit can allow you to give your loved one the care they need, whether that means moving them to a different nursing home or caring for them at home. It also helps you seek justice for your loved one and prevent ongoing abuse. When a nursing home abuse and neglect attorney files a claim or lawsuit, you could recover:

• Your loved one’s medical bills
• Any lost wages for time you needed to take off work to care for them
• Relocation costs
• Pain, suffering, and inconvenience
• Emotional distress

If you lost a loved one to nursing home neglect or abuse, please accept our most sincere condolences. One of our co-counsels in your area can help you seek justice and compensation for:

• Your loved one’s funeral and burial expenses
• Their medical care before their passing
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of consortium
• Loss of guidance or comfort

Red Flags of Neglect and Abuse

Nursing home abuse can be overt or subtle. There are several signs to look for to identify abuse and neglect, including:

• Bedsores
• Infections
• Soiled sheets
• Dirty clothing
• A smell of urine or feces in your loved one’s room
• Missed medications
• Unexplained weight loss
• Unexplained bruising
• Restraint marks
• Fear of specific caregivers
• Bruising around the breasts or genitals
• Unexplained sexually transmitted infections
• A caregiver’s refusal to leave you alone with your loved one
• Depression
• An unwillingness to talk with you
• Missing money
• A changed will or power of attorney
• Charges for services that were not rendered

Some of these, such as bedsores, missed medications, soiled sheets, dirty clothing, and the smell of urine or feces, indicate neglect. Others, such as restraint marks or bruising, can indicate physical abuse. If you witness these signs, you may want to speak with your loved one about their care.

What to Do If You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse

If you see any of the signs above or otherwise expect your loved one is suffering mistreatment, there are several things you should do to protect them:

• Talk with your loved one. If you believe your loved one is being mistreated, speak with them about it. Your loved one may be unwilling to talk about the abuse out of fear of retribution, or they may not remember the abuse occurring if they have dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. In any case, if you suspect abuse, say something.
• Ensure your loved one is safe. If they (or another resident) are in immediate danger, call 9-1-1.
• Take notes and photos. Write down when you notice certain signs and take pictures of any bruising, bedsores, or soiled sheets.
• Begin making other arrangements for their care. You may need to move them to a new facility or care for them at home. Establish these plans before reporting the abuse.
• Report the abuse. You can report the neglect or abuse to the nursing home administration; however, if you suspect their involvement, you can skip this step and instead file a complaint with your state’s Adult Protective Services or long-term or elder care ombudsman.
• Get your loved one the care they need. Depending on the circumstances, they may need medical care or mental healthcare. Bedsores require emergency treatment, or you risk your loved one contracting sepsis, a deadly complication of the pressure ulcer. Abuse survivors may also need to undergo counseling to come to terms with what occurred. You can include all these costs in your claim.
• Get help from a nursing home abuse attorney. Your lawyer can handle every aspect of your case while you focus on ensuring your loved one is safe.

Why Does Nursing Home Abuse Happen?

Nursing home abuse or neglect is never okay. However, it unfortunately happens much more frequently than you’d expect. It is often the result of:

• Understaffing
• Frustration and staff burnout
• Improper training
• Underpaid staff
• Poor management

We can help you seek justice, regardless of why the abuse or neglect occurred.

Get Help With No Upfront Costs

You have enough on your plate right now. You shouldn’t also be worrying about how you will afford legal services. And you don’t need to. Our law firm partners handle injury and abuse cases on a contingency fee basis. You don’t pay any upfront fees; you only pay for your lawyer’s help if they win your case. There is no risk when you enlist the help of our co-counsels.