Facilities that are meant to care for disabled loved ones and seniors are supposed to be safe, supportive, and loving environments. Specialized needs, medical services, and the required care for day-to-day living should come from a caring, attentive staff.

Unfortunately, these facilities are often run by giant corporations with little care for the well-being of the patients. It’s a terrible fact that our loved ones are at risk when we are forced to place them in the care of others. 

In the event you discover the abuse or neglect of a loved one, you may feel alone and powerless. However, the West Valley City nursing home abuse attorneys of 1Law can help. We work tirelessly to defend the victims of neglect and abuse and hold the responsible parties accountable, and we can help your family every step of the way.

What Can I Do If I Suspect Nursing Home Abuse?

The first thing to do is secure their safety immediately. If you believe someone is in a life-threatening situation, suffering physical abuse, or that they may face immediate danger, call 911. Remove them from the environment right away if possible. Stay with them until they can be removed or the harmful situation is stabilized.

Report the abuse to the police immediately. It’s not necessary to provide evidence or proof. They will investigate the facility and your claims. Utah Adult Protective Services will be called if they deem it necessary, or you can contact them on your own. If you need more information, the National Center on Elder Abuse offers resources and helpful contact info.

If you have further concerns, legal questions, or wish to file a legal complaint to pursue action against them in civil litigation, the West Valley City nursing home abuse attorneys of 1Law will help.

Should I File a Nursing Home Abuse Claim?

The act of involving a lawyer to handle your nursing home abuse case can get the attention of the facility fast. This lawsuit puts them on notice, publicly announces the allegations, and makes them look into cleaning their own house, so to speak. 

They can lose their licensing and lose the eligibility to accept any Medicare or Medicaid funding. They will be subject to public scrutiny, fines, civil penalties, additional civil litigation from other complainants, and even jail time. 

When these facilities are entrusted with the care of human beings who are vulnerable and unable to defend themselves, they have an ethical and legal obligation to comply with federally mandated rules if they wish to continue operations.

We think these offenses are deplorable and should always be reported to the proper authorities. A nursing home abuse attorney can and will do everything in their power to see them brought to justice. 

What Is Considered to Be Nursing Home Abuse?

Legally defined, nursing home abuse can be intentional or negligent acts that result in physical, psychological, or emotional harm. Whether or not the acts are performed maliciously has no bearing on the definition. Some examples and signs of nursing home negligence, neglect, and abuse include: 

• Poor physical or dental hygiene
• Inappropriate unauthorized use of meds
• Sudden depression and low self-esteem
• Change in resident’s condition not acted upon in a reasonable time frame
• Unexplained resident deaths
• Health conditions not reported to doctors or family members
• Physical or chemical restraint without doctor approval
• Limiting mentally stimulating activities
• Bedsores, pressure sores, or ulcers on the skin
• Unusual frequency of illnesses and infections in residents
• Withholding glasses, hearing aids, mobility devices, or medicine
• Malnutrition and unexplained weight loss
• Unauthorized access or removal of personal financial documents and statements
• Isolation of the resident and limited contact with family or friends
• Multiple falls and fractured bones
• Screaming at the residents, taunting, or verbal abuse
• Unexplained bruising, cuts, and marks
• Restriction of phone communication
• Inadequate staffing or unqualified staff

These acts are damaging to the health and well-being of any patient, especially when they are in a vulnerable state or at an advanced age. If your loved one’s dignity, safety, and health are not being properly attended to, remove them from the situation as soon as possible, report it, and seek counsel from a West Valley City nursing home abuse lawyer.

What Kind of Damages Are Considered in a Nursing Home Abuse Case?

The financial damage of restoring your loved one’s health, finding new facilities for care, and dealing with the overall aftermath of this situation can be devastating. The medical costs alone can be astounding and difficult to calculate.

Your nursing home abuse attorney can handle this task for you. Sorting through the medical bills, and papers, and making the phone calls to determine the actual damages of your case is an important task to accurately evaluate the value of your claim. With these calculations, we can be certain that we fight for the full compensation you are due.

Using the outcome of similar cases can provide a yardstick to accurately estimate the potential outcome as well. The most common damages considered when evaluating a case value include:

Medical Expenses

The cost of treatment for injuries, future therapy, and doctor visits. Reimbursement for costs already paid can be included in this number. Personal injury cases will nearly always take into account your financial costs of hospitalizations, emergency treatments, and all related medical costs. 

Property and Financial Loss

If the abuse case includes stolen property or the loss of finances because the patient was swindled or taken advantage of by caregivers, this can be added to the damages.

Your Out-of-Pocket Expenses

Home healthcare services, traveling time for medical treatments for your loved one, and other expenses may be incurred when your loved one is transitioning facilities. These expenses are also considered in a nursing home abuse case.

Emotional and Mental Distress

Insomnia, anxiety attacks, and PTSD after dealing with certain types of neglect and abuse can have an extreme impact on the victim. Their distress is a factor that is considered in the non-economic damages.

Pain and Suffering

Pain and suffering of your loved one including the length of time and pain involved in treating the injuries are considerations as well.

Contact a West Valley City Nursing Home Abuse Attorney Today

It’s important to know that you aren’t alone. These deplorable actions can be stopped, and our nursing home abuse lawyers in West Valley City will work hard to pursue justice and compensation for the suffering your loved one endured. 

While the harm done to your loved one can never be undone, we can help to pursue compensation for their suffering in order to relieve the financial burdens and compensate them for their ordeal. 

The legal team at 1Law works for these victims so that their dignity and safety can be restored. Chat with a lawyer for free today to learn more about your legal options.