Nursing Home Abuse

We Uphold the Rights of Abused and Neglected Nursing Home Residents

Nursing homes are supposed to be safe places where people receive personalized healthcare and assistance with their day-to-day living tasks. Unfortunately, some nursing homes are the opposite, as negligent staff members put residents’ well-being and lives in danger due to abuse and neglect.

Negligence may occur when nursing homes understaff in an effort to save money, or they hire underqualified and unvetted workers. Too many nursing homes value profits over the health of their residents, and when their priorities are skewed, innocent people suffer.

At Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers, our Norfolk nursing home abuse attorneys are dedicated to holding negligent nursing homes and nursing home owners responsible for the harm they cause to residents. If your loved one suffered an illness or injury because of abuse or neglect while living in a nursing home, we’re here to help.

We know what evidence to look for to prove that your loved one’s health problems are caused by poor quality of care, and we know how to build a claim that the nursing home can’t ignore. Call us today for a free consultation—we’re ready to help your family get the compensation you deserve.

Neglect Can Be Just as Harmful as Abuse for Nursing Home Residents

The thought of your loved one being abused by a medical professional or staff member at his or her nursing home is horrifying. Many people with loved ones living in nursing homes share that worry, and that means they’re often on high alert for signs of physical or mental abuse when they visit their family members.

However, neglect can be more difficult to detect, but it can also have seriously detrimental effects on the health and happiness of nursing home residents. Common types of neglect include:

• Neglect of primary needs—Residents may be deprived of basic needs like food, water, and a clean room, bed, and clothing. Weight loss, dehydration, or unsanitary conditions may be blamed on the resident or his or her medical conditions.
• Neglect of medical needs—Many nursing home residents suffer from health conditions that require frequent treatment and evaluation. When residents are victims of neglect, they may receive their medication sporadically or go days without it, and they may be deprived of the medical care they need from doctors and specialists.
• Neglect of personal needs—It’s important for nursing home residents to feel like they’re part of the community. When residents are left alone for long periods of time or aren’t allowed to participate in activities, their mental health may suffer.

If you suspect your loved one is being abused or neglected in his or her nursing home, contact a Norfolk nursing home abuse lawyer today. The legal team at Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers is ready to help—call for a free consultation.

2 Reasons to Get a Lawyer for a Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect Claim

Finding out that your loved one wasn’t given the care, attention, and medical treatment he or she deserves in the nursing home is devastating. It’s even worse to learn that he or she was physically, mentally, or sexually abused while living in the facility.

At Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers, we have zero tolerance for facilities that hire staff members who mistreat residents. When we take on such claims, we do everything in our power to get maximum compensation for victims and their families. It’s the least we can do to help them put the incident behind them and to find better accommodations and facilities where residents are treated with respect and dignity.

If your loved one was abused or neglected in his or her nursing home, there are two important reasons that you should calling a Norfolk nursing home abuse attorney:

1. We’ll stand up to the nursing home and its insurance company—Many nursing homes are parts of big corporations, and there may be dozens of similar nursing homes operating under the same management and ownership. That can make it difficult for individual families to pursue compensation. But we know how those corporations and their insurers operate, and we can beat them at their own game.
2. We’ll fight for your loved one’s rights—Nursing home residents in Virginia have many rights, and when they’re violated, and they deserve a voice and an advocate. In addition to fighting for your loved one to get fair compensation, we’ll also fight to make sure his or her rights are upheld and respected.

Call today for a free consultation. Your loved one deserves experienced legal representation after what he or she has been through, and we’re here to help.

3 Steps to Take if You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect

The possibility that your loved one is being abused or neglected while living in a nursing home can be difficult to come to terms with. You may feel powerless, guilty, and frightened for his or her health and well-being.

At Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers, we know how devastating that realization can be. You trusted the healthcare professionals and staff at the nursing home to provide your loved one with the absolute best care possible, but instead, he or she is suffering at their hands.

As soon as you suspect that mistreatment is occurring, it’s important that you take the following three steps:

1. Ask your loved one about what’s happening—If possible, speak to your loved one in private about his or her treatment at the nursing home. Although it’s common for residents to feel too intimidated or anxious to tell others—even their own family members—about their abuse or neglect, a private and honest conversation can help you learn more about what’s happening.
2. Speak with the nursing home director or manager—Bring up your concerns with a member of the management team or the director of the nursing home. In some cases, a single staff member can be responsible for abusing multiple residents, and altering management can save others from that same mistreatment.
3. Call an experienced Norfolk nursing home abuse lawyer—When residents are abused by nursing home staff, they and their families deserve compensation, but it can be difficult to get it without legal advocates on their side.

We’re ready to help you and your loved get the money you deserve for what you’ve been through. Call today for a free consultation.

What Are the Signs of Nursing Home Abuse?

If your loved one lives in a nursing home, you expect the doctors, nurses, and support staff to provide your loved one with excellent care. But whether it’s due to lack of funding, poor training, or inattentive employees, some nursing home residents get little to no attention, while others are actively abused by medical staff.

The Norfolk nursing home abuse lawyers at Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers are dedicated to standing up for the rights of abused and neglected nursing home residents throughout Virginia, but we know that this kind of abuse isn’t always obvious. If you suspect that your loved one isn’t receiving the care and attention he or she deserves, watch for these signs of potential abuse or neglect:

• Unexplained cuts, bruises, or pain – Nursing home staff should keep you updated on your loved one’s health and report any falls or injuries to you right away. If you notice that your loved one appears injured or is in pain but you never received an explanation, it may be due to neglect or abuse.
• Worsening health – Many nursing home residents require frequent medication dosages and other treatments to manage their health conditions. If your loved one’s health is worsening with no explanation, it may be due to insufficient care from doctors, nurses, and other staff.

It’s important to act fast if you suspect nursing home abuse, as evidence of the act can quickly disappear. Our legal team knows how to build strong claims for families like yours, and we’ll do everything we can to maximize your chances of recovering compensation. Call today for a free consultation.

Who Should You Talk to If You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse?

Nursing homes are supposed to be places of healing, acceptance, and accommodation for our loved ones. But conditions such as understaffing, budget cuts, or insufficient employee training can cause residents to suffer mistreatment, neglect, and even abuse at the hands of the people who are supposed to take care of them.

If you notice any warning signs that could indicate abuse or neglect, including poor hygiene, unexplained weight loss, or cuts and bruises, it’s important to act immediately and speak with these three parties:

• Your loved one – If your loved one is communicative, ask them about any warning signs you’ve noticed. Write down any information you get and make a list of follow-up questions.
• A doctor, supervisor, or manager – After you’ve spoken with your loved one, take your list of questions and concerns to a supervisory figure at the nursing home. Get as many answers as you can during this time, and don’t be afraid to continue asking questions.
• An experienced lawyer – Nursing homes are often well-protected from allegations of abuse or neglect. Your concerns may fall on deaf ears without a legal team on your side.

Don’t hesitate to call 911 if you fear that your loved one’s safety or life is in immediate danger.

At Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers, we’ve helped many families whose loved ones were victims of nursing home abuse or neglect. Call today for a free consultation with our Norfolk nursing home abuse lawyers.

Look for These Red Flags When Choosing a Nursing Home

Making the decision to move a loved one into a nursing home is never easy. It’s even harder when you know that some nursing homes are understaffed or have unqualified employees who oversee residents’ care and well-being. In some cases, staff members even neglect and abuse residents.

When you’re touring nursing homes and trying to decide the best fit for your loved one, be on the lookout for these red flags:

• Poor housekeeping and low standard of cleanliness – While occasional spills, odors, and clutter happen at every nursing home, facilities that don’t appear clean or well-maintained also may be poorly managed—which can lead to poor resident care and even put their health at risk.

• High staff turnover – A nursing home is only as good as its staff. When doctors, nurses, and other caregivers are happy, residents are more likely to get effective and caring treatment. High staff turnover means that employees may have poor morale and may be less capable of caring for your loved one.

• Bad reviews – Appearances can be deceiving, and even the cleanest nursing home with the friendliest staff can still be a poor residence for your loved one. Online reviews can help you learn more about specific nursing homes and whether there are any issues you might not be aware of.

An experienced Norfolk nursing home abuse lawyer has zero tolerance for facilities that fail to give residents the rights they deserve. If your loved one was abused or neglected at a nursing home, we’ll fight for your rights to the compensation you deserve. Fill out an online contact form to get in touch with us today.

Every Nursing Home is Capable of Abuse

No one wants to put their aging loved one in a nursing home. If you were able, you’d take on their continuous care yourself, but that’s just not always possible. He or she needs around-the-clock care that you simply can’t provide. The best we can do for our aging loved ones is to find a nursing home facility that best meets their needs. In Virginia, there are several great facilities, but even the best of facilities can employ less than trustworthy employees.

As a nursing home resident, your loved one has a number of rights. Those rights allow them the same freedoms that every other American is entitled to, such as the freedom to handle their own finances and have a say in their medical treatment plan. On a more fundamental level, they have the right to a safe and trauma-free living environment. However, defending that right on their own isn’t always possible. When their basic dignities are compromised, someone must step in on their behalf. That starts with you, and it ends with us.

If you suspect your loved one has been the victim of nursing home abuse or neglect, give us a call today for a free consultation. We’ll investigate the suspected abuse and fight to hold those responsible accountable. Don’t let your loved one suffer in silence. Contact us today for your free, no obligation consultation, and let us fight for their rights.

The Many Forms of Nursing Home Abuse

Taking care of aging loved ones isn’t easy, especially if you’ve never been a caretaker. It can require around-the-clock care–something you and your family simply can’t provide. That level of care is only available from professionals. That’s why you and your family made the decision to find the best nursing home facility your aging loved one could afford, and it was the right decision. Unfortunately, not every facility lives up to the promises it makes.

Nursing home abuse and neglect come in many forms. As a family member, it’s important that you are aware of the signs that nursing home abuse or neglect exist, so that you can protect your loved one from harm. Common signs include:

• Pale complexion
• Untreated bedsores, bruises, or cuts
• Excessive weight loss
• Fleas or lice in the resident’s room
• Poor personal hygiene
• Changes to medications
• Unpleasant odors
• Torn clothing or missing personal items

If your aging loved one shows any of these signs, they may be the victim of nursing home abuse or neglect. Call an experienced Norfolk nursing home abuse lawyer today to learn about your loved one’s rights. At Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers, we’ll fully investigate the extent of the abuse and hold the responsible facility accountable. Act immediately to ensure your loved one’s safety. Contact us today.

Protecting Our Aging Loved Ones from Abuse

We talk a lot on this blog about respect. That’s because at Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers, respect is king. We extend it to every client who comes through our doors and we demand it from the insurance company on their behalf. Like most folks in Virginia, the same is true in our personal lives. We all want what’s best for our families, and we’ll do anything to protect them from harm, especially when they can’t defend themselves.

When our aging loved ones decide that a nursing home is the right next move for their lives, our first priority is finding a facility that will care for their needs and treat them with the dignity and respect they deserve. When we suspect neglect or abuse in that care, we immediately want to run to their aid. But how do you prove neglect has occurred?

Here are seven signs that your aging loved one may be the victim of nursing home neglect:

• Bedsores or bruises related in immobility
• Sudden weight loss
• Fleas, lice, or lack of cleanliness in the resident’s room
• Poor personal hygiene
• Torn clothing or broken personal items
• Odors of urine or feces
• Untreated wounds, cuts, bruises, or welts

If your aging loved one shows any signs that indicate abuse or neglect, call our experienced Norfolk nursing home abuse lawyers today for a free consultation. We’ll fully investigate the nature of your loved one’s injuries and fight to hold the responsible party accountable.