Defending Loved Ones Against Elder Abuse
Our Bethesda, MD law firm fights for the rights of patients in nursing homes who are unable to do so themselves. We believe nursing homes should treat all patients—regardless of age, illness, or disability—with the care and respect they deserve. So, if you believe your loved one has become a victim of elder abuse or neglect, please reach out to our law firm as soon as possible.
Understanding Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
Nursing homes can mistreat their patients in many ways, including by abusing them or neglecting them. Abuse may manifest through emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, and financial abuse.
While some forms of mistreatment may carry more obvious physical signs, neglect may manifest in the form of failing to properly care for an elderly person’s needs, particularly in the way of shelter, food, and water.
Reading the Signs
There are common signs that you can look for when visiting your loved one in the nursing home if you believe the staff may be abusing or neglecting them. If you witness any of these signs, please do not hesitate to contact our law firm for guidance.
- Emotional Abuse
Your loved one may begin exhibiting signs of anxiety or fearful behavior, sudden changes to their regular mood or demeanor (particularly with nursing home staff), and even a refusal to see family.
- Physical Abuse
Your loved one may have outward signs of physical abuse, like broken or fractured bones, bruises, and more frequent trips to the hospital or in-house nursing care.
- Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse can be harder to determine if you do not look for the signs. These could be the development of a sexually transmitted infection or disease, pain in the genital area, or bleeding or bruising in the genital area.
- Neglect
Neglect often presents in the form of the resident lacking in basic necessities and noticeable malnourishment. They may also develop poor hygiene, bedsores, and the nursing home may not be giving them the medical care they need daily.
- Financial Abuse
Keeping an eye on your loved one’s finances is also incredibly important while they are residing in a nursing home.
It is important to take note of their regular credit or debit card purchases, inquire about any missing property, and ensure they are getting the proper care and medication that they are paying for. A common example involves patients receiving an off-brand medication when they are billed for name-brand medication. If you are ever in doubt about whether your loved one is being taken advantage of financially, please consider contacting our law firm with your questions.
Contact Our Bethesda Law Firm Today
Retain an attorney as soon as possible and get your loved one to safety. An attorney from Brown Kiely LLP will walk you through Maryland’s laws on nursing homes and elder abuse to develop the best plan of action to give your loved one the compensation they deserve after abuse. To speak with one of our attorneys now, call us now.