Elder Abuse Personal Injury Lawyer in Las Vegas, NV

Many families in Las Vegas place their trust in nursing homes to care for their loved ones. When that faith is broken and a family member falls victim to nursing home abuse or neglect, you need strong, no-nonsense legal help on your side. For that kind of support, turn to THE702FIRM Injury Attorneys.

Nursing home abuse takes many forms, and it’s not always easy to detect. Many residents with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease cannot communicate their suffering. Others may be too afraid to report that they’re being mistreated. A nursing home abuse and neglect lawyer can be their voice and demand compensation for their injuries and losses.

If you or someone you love is a victim of nursing home abuse, seeking justice now could end up saving another person’s life. Don’t wait — call or contact us today for a free consultation.

Types of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect

According to The National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA), there are seven different types of nursing home abuse and neglect. These include:

• Physical abuse: Any physical force that results (or could result) in pain, impairment, or bodily injury is considered physical abuse. Examples include hitting, pushing, shaking, shoving, slapping, pinching, or kicking. The use of restraints, improper use of medication, and any type of physical punishment are also considered physical abuse.
• Sexual abuse: Any type of unwanted sexual contact such as touching, intercourse, assault, and the battery is considered sexual abuse. Many nursing home residents do not have the capacity to provide consent, so any sexual contact may be considered sexual abuse.
• Emotional abuse: Also known as psychological abuse, this can include intimidating, humiliating, insulting, threatening, or harassing nursing home residents. Emotional abuse can also involve giving residents the silent treatment, treating them as a child, and preventing them from participating in social activities that they enjoy.
• Financial abuse: Stealing and inappropriate use of a resident’s property, money, or assets is financial abuse. Staff members may forge a resident’s signature, deceive a resident into signing financial documents or cash his or her checks without permission.
• Neglect: Nursing home abuse is intentional. Neglect refers to carelessness that results in a resident becoming injured. Nursing homes that do not ensure that all residents are provided proper hygiene and have access to medicine, food, shelter, and clothing may be held liable for neglect.
• Abandonment: Leaving a resident alone or unsupervised is abandonment and a serious departure from the standard of care expected at nursing homes.
• Self-neglect: Residents may refuse to care for themselves. But even when this is the case, nursing homes are responsible for ensuring residents receive proper care.

How to Spot Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect

Nursing home abuse is widely believed to be an underreported crime. Look for these warning signs if you suspect that someone is a victim of nursing home abuse or neglect:

• Poor personal hygiene: Nurses, doctors, and staff are responsible for helping residents maintain proper hygiene. This includes assistance with bathing, toileting, dressing, and managing health conditions to prevent hygiene-related medical problems. Staff members should also help residents dress in clean clothes and provide fresh bedding.
• Sanitary living conditions: Nursing home administrators and staff should always ensure all areas of their facilities are clean and sanitary. Federal law also requires them to maintain an infection control program. When bathrooms, kitchens, and common living areas are dirty, dangerous health infections can spread rapidly.
• Malnutrition/dehydration: Signs of malnutrition and dehydration include chapped and dry lips and skin, sunken eyes and cheeks, and sudden weight loss. Malnutrition and dehydration can occur due to neglect. These conditions can also be abuse-related, as in cases where staff members intentionally deprive a resident of food and drink as a form of punishment.
• Mobility issues: Many people are moved to nursing homes when their mobility becomes impaired. Facilities are responsible for providing opportunities for elders to move around safely. When residents are left in beds or wheelchairs for long periods of time, their mobility issues can worsen. Circulation problems, loss of muscle tone, bedsores, and balance issues are all possible signs that residents are not active enough.
• Unexplained injuries: Falls are a leading cause of injury among the elderly. Nursing homes have a duty to provide assistive equipment, monitoring, and support to help residents avoid unnecessary falls. Broken hips, head injuries, bruising, skin redness, or scrapes that go unexplained could be a sign of abuse or neglect.
• Psychological injuries: Residents who suddenly become angry, fearful, withdrawn, or experience a cognitive decline may be victims of nursing home abuse.
• Wandering: Older people with dementia and other cognitive impairments may not have the judgment to make safe decisions.

These residents should be kept on a secured wing with locked doors that prevent them from making an easy exit. If your family member was found wandering or was injured due to wandering, it could be a sign of nursing home neglect.

Don’t be afraid to say something if you have concerns about the way a nursing home is operating. It’s better to be safe than sorry.