Nursing Home Injuries

According to the California State Attorney General, approximately 200,000 seniors suffer elder abuse each year. We place a lot of trust in caregivers at nursing homes and other long-term care facilities, and realizing that a loved one may be a victim of neglect or mistreatment is both upsetting and shocking.

It is alarming when the vulnerable senior population in California receives inadequate nursing home care. If you suspect elder abuse or malpractice, you have the right to take legal action. At the Law Offices of John E. Hill, our compassionate attorneys have been advocating for injured clients in Oakland and throughout the San Francisco Bay Area since 1993, and we know how to hold negligent practitioners accountable for the harm they cause.

Understanding the symptoms of personal injury or abuse is important. Although the quality of nursing home care has improved in recent years, deficiencies continue to exist in residential facilities across the state. Despite California laws designed to protect seniors, elder abuse remains a significant problem. Common forms of elder abuse include the following:

• Physical abuse — Inappropriate use of restraints or medication, physical or sexual assault, poor nutrition, or withholding of food or water as punishment
• Neglect — Failure to provide adequate care, such as fulfilling nutritional needs, giving required medication, performing regular healthcare procedures or maintaining proper hygiene
• Abandonment — Desertion or neglect of an elderly person by a designated caregiver
• Financial manipulation — Taking advantage of an elderly person’s vulnerability by coercing the person to give money or other valuable items or by stealing

It may be time to consider taking legal action if you notice any of the following symptoms of neglect or abuse:

• Pressure sores — Commonly called bedsores, pressure sores are often a sign of inadequate care and neglect. If you or your loved one notice a pressure sore, get immediate treatment to prevent the condition from worsening.
• Physical injury — Broken bones, bruises and lacerations are especially dangerous for the elderly. Falls can be deadly to nursing home residents, but understaffed facilities often do not have enough personnel to monitor patients at all times.
• Abuse and neglect — Dementia patients are often unable to explain what is happening to them if they are being hurt or taken advantage of. If your loved one makes such a claim, take it seriously. Malnutrition, poor hygiene and fear of speaking when staff members are present are red flags for a potentially abusive nursing home situation.
• Financial abuse — The unexplained disappearance of objects or money, depletion of bank accounts or alterations to a wills or other financial documents may be signs of this type of abuse.

Family members often face indecision when placing an elderly family member in a nursing facility. If you suspect elder abuse or your loved one suffers an injury in a nursing home, you need professional legal support. Our attorneys promptly investigate the incident and help you file a claim for compensation if appropriate.

If you are concerned about the well-being of a loved one in a California nursing home, consult an attorney from the Law Offices of John E. Hill to learn more about your legal options. We offer flexible office hours. Schedule a free initial consultation with a qualified lawyer today — call (510) 588-1000 or contact our firm online. Hablamos español.