Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect: Warning Signs

According to the National Association of Nursing Home Attorneys, a staggering 5 million elderly individuals suffer abuse every year in the United States. In a single year alone, U.S. seniors made over 250,000 complaints regarding the poor quality of care, nursing home staff, and facilities they lived in. But unfortunately, elder abuse is a “silent” crime. Estimates suggest only about 20 percent of all nursing home abuse cases are ever reported.

When you entrust the care of a family member to nursing home staff, you expect they will be treated with dignity and respect. If you suspect your loved one is a victim of nursing home abuse or neglect, act immediately. Contact an experienced nursing home abuse attorney to protect your relative and hold the at-fault party(s) accountable for their despicable actions.

The Las Vegas nursing home abuse and neglect lawyers at THE702FIRM Injury Attorneys are dedicated to standing up for the rights of Nevada’s most vulnerable citizens. Call or contact us for a free consultation now.

What is Nursing Home Abuse in Nevada?

Nursing home abuse can take many forms, but it generally refers to any action that causes harm to a resident of an elder care facility, such as a nursing or retirement home. Most instances of mistreatment are perpetrated by caretakers or nursing home staff, though trusted individuals such as family members and friends may also participate. Roughly one in every 10 Americans ages 60 and above has experienced elder abuse.

In Nevada, laws prohibit abuse and neglect in elder care facilities like nursing homes. Under Nevada Revised Statutes Section 200.5099, it is a criminal offense to abuse, abandon, neglect, isolate, or exploit someone aged 60 or above. Individuals who commit these crimes against elders can be charged with a class C felony. Depending on the severity of the victim’s physical and/or psychological injuries, the guilty party could have their charges upgraded to a class B felony, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years behind bars.

Although nursing home abuse and neglect can be charged as a crime by the state, victims may also have grounds to file a civil lawsuit against the facility where the abuse occurred. TEH702FIRM Injury Attorneys represents clients in civil nursing home abuse and neglect cases.

Types of Nursing Home Abuse

Some of the most common types of nursing home abuse include:

• Physical abuse, such as punching, slapping, kicking, or unnecessary restraints
• Financial exploitation, including stealing a resident’s cash or credit cards, preventing them from accessing their finances, forging documents, or even altering a resident’s will or estate plan
• Abandonment, or leaving a senior citizen unattended for extended periods
• Emotional abuse, like verbal threats, insults, humiliation, and isolation from other residents and loved ones
• Neglect, such as failing to provide the correct medications or the right dosages, disregarding personal hygiene, failing to provide proper nutrition, and ignoring requests and complaints
• Sexual abuse, including non-consensual sexual contact of any kind, sexual assault, and rape

Because nursing home abuse is a hidden epidemic, it’s important to do your research before placing your loved one in an elder care facility. You should also familiarize yourself with the common signs of elder abuse and neglect so you can recognize the warning signs.

Signs of Elderly Abuse & Neglect in the Nursing Home Environment

Some of the common signs of elder neglect and abuse in nursing homes include:

Never ignore your gut if you sense something is wrong at a nursing home. Look into the situation and voice your concerns with nursing home staff. If staff members fail to address the issue or dismiss your concerns, you should immediately contact a nursing home abuse and neglect attorney to investigate the matter further and determine what legal action is possible.

How Do I Report Nursing Home Abuse in Nevada?

You can report abuse to Nevada’s Adult Protective Services. To report suspected abuse or neglect in Las Vegas or Clark County, call 702-486-6930. If you believe that the senior is in immediate danger, contact your local police department or sheriff’s office right away.

What Are Other Options Besides Suing?

In addition to reporting alleged elder abuse or neglect to social services, you could also file a report with the police. Remember, nursing home abuse is a serious crime, and authorities will need to investigate the matter to determine whether charges should be brought against the facility and/or its administration and staff. In addition to prison time, perpetrators of nursing home abuse can also face steep fines and other penalties.
At THE702FIRM Injury Attorneys, we strongly recommend you to report any suspected case of nursing home abuse and neglect. You could not only save your loved one, but other residents in the same dangerous situation.

Talk to a Las Vegas Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

If your loved one is a victim of nursing home abuse or neglect in Nevada, you could be entitled to seek compensation from the at-fault party. THE702FIRM Injury Attorneys can help. We will aggressively investigate the alleged abuse, collect evidence to prove liability, document your losses, and fight fiercely for the full and fair compensation you deserve.

At our law firm, we know that nursing home abuse is an urgent problem that needs addressing right away. That’s why we are available 24/7 and can be reached outside of regular business hours. We also offer same-day appointments and return all messages within 24 hours.

Call or contact us online today for your free initial case review.