Nursing Home Lawyer Bethesda MD
If your loved one was mistreated in a nursing home, you may want to speak to a nursing home lawyer Bethesda, Maryland trusts. An experienced lawyer from Brown Kiely LLP may help your family begin to recover from this trauma with a settlement.
Common Types of Nursing Home Abuse
While most nursing home staff take good care of their patients, some are negligent or even abusive. When patients are abused or neglected in a nursing home, they can suffer serious injuries or become ill. As the relative of an elderly nursing home patient, it can be difficult to spot the signs of abuse and neglect. At Brown Kiely LLP, we want to make sure that families in need of a nursing home abuse a nursing home lawyer in Bethesda MD have the opportunity to find trustworthy counsel. We also want these families to know that they aren’t alone, and that it’s not their fault if they have had trouble seeing the signs of abuse.
1.Emotional Abuse
Emotional abuse might not leave any visible scars, but it can still negatively affect a patient. This kind of abuse may include name calling, threats, and ignoring a patient’s requests. A patient who experiences emotional abuse in a nursing home may become anxious, depressed, and withdrawn.
2. Physical Abuse
Physical abuse in a nursing home occurs when a staff member intentionally inflicts physical harm on a patient. Withholding medications from a patient may also be considered physical abuse. This abuse may leave noticeable signs, such as bruises, broken bones, and scars.
3. Financial Abuse
Financial exploitation is another form of nursing home abuse a nursing home lawyer Bethesda MD counts on may see. Elderly nursing home patients are especially susceptible to this abuse. Their caregivers often have access to their bank account information and may steal from them. If a nursing home patient is experiencing financial abuse, there may be unpaid bills, unexpected changes to wills, or additions to beneficiaries.
4. Sexual Abuse
This abuse includes non-consensual sexual contact with a patient. Warning signs of sexual abuse may include diagnoses of sexually transmitted diseases, vaginal bleeding, and injury around genitalia or breasts.
Hire a Nursing Home Lawyer Bethesda MD Respects
No matter what type of abuse your loved one endured, it may be important to consult with an experienced Bethesda nursing home lawyer as soon as possible. A lawyer from Brown Kiely LLP may help you gather up the necessary evidence, such as medical records and witness statements, and build a strong case against the perpetrator. A reputable nursing home lawyer Bethesda MD can provide may work hard to make sure your family member is fairly compensated for the abuse he or she suffered.
At our law firm, we’re happy to schedule consultations over the phone or in person with potential clients. Even if you aren’t sure whether your loved one is being abused, we invite you to speak with us.
For more information about meeting with a nursing home lawyer Bethesda MD offers, contact Brown Kiely LLP today.
In What Ways May Neglect Occur in Nursing Home Facilities?
Nursing home facilities are responsible for the routine care of residents, through providing food, bathing, medicating, and any other task related to daily living. However, despite being paid to uphold this role, many caregivers may be neglectful in tending to patients in a compassionate and timely manner. Family members who believe their elderly loved one has been neglected in the nursing home facility can seek justice by filing a lawsuit against the company. A nursing home lawyer in Bethesda MD from Brown Kiely LLP will aggressively advocate for your elderly loved one.
Q: Where do resident bedsores come from?
A: Bedsores, also referred to as decubitus or pressure ulcers, can be one of the very first signs of neglect. If bed sores are left untreated, they can lead to infection and a worsened condition. Bedsores can be seen on the feet, hips, back, and other areas of the body were the bone is close to the skin. Bedsores can develop if the staff is not tending to the resident appropriately. Bedsores are not to be taken lightly and must be treated right away. Contact a Bethesda MD nursing home lawyer if your loved one has bed sores and you suspect neglect.
Q: It is normal for residents to sustain broken bones?
A: Staff at a nursing home facility must do whatever is within their power to reduce the chances of residents falling or breaking bones somehow. A caregiver who has not been trained or is being careless, may not lift a bedridden resident the correct way, causing a drop or fall to occur. Those with loved ones in a nursing home who sustained a broken bone and staff cannot fully explain why may mean it’s time to investigate further. A Bethesda MD nursing home lawyer knows how to conduct an investigation to find out if there is abuse or neglect.
Q: Are falls entirely preventable in a nursing home scenario?
A: The caregivers of a nursing home are paid to take care of elderly residents, so they must do what they can to prevent incidents of injury and illness. Most falls can be prevented if staff consistently provide attentive and thorough care. Falls can happen due to dizzying medications, malnutrition, and staff failing to protect residents from harm.
Q: Do caregivers have to log information about residents?
A: Yes, staff who take care of residents are to document notes when medication is provided, meals are offered, there are signs of illness, and anything else related to health. Residents are to live in a clean, comfortable and reasonably warm environment while receiving appetizing food and medical care when needed.
Q: What if a resident receives the incorrect type of medication?
A: Doctors and caregivers who are not attentive, may prescribe or give a patient either the incorrect dose or medication type. Mistakes for amount and frequency can have truly devastating repercussions. One of the more life-threatening forms of neglect is overmedicating a resident. In understaffed facilities, they may use strong sedatives or antipsychotics when there isn’t enough help to adequately supervise residents.
Q: What residents are more vulnerable to neglect?
A: Residents that have been diagnosed with a memory impairment condition such as Alzheimer’s or dementia may be more at-risk for neglect. This is because residents may not be able to communicate or remember when they are being mistreated. Family members who have a loved one in a nursing home can help protect him or her by visiting often, asking questions, and being involved in medical care. And if you suspect there is any neglect or abuse, immediately contact a nursing home lawyer Bethesda MD clients recommend from Brown Kiely, LLP.