The coronavirus pandemic and its devastating impact on the lives of many of our most vulnerable citizens has reminded us of our vital duty to protect and care for our nursing home residents. If you have a loved one in a Manhattan nursing home, it is critical that you consistently keep up with their care and be vigilant to any signs that they are not receiving the quality level of care that they are entitled to by law. Nursing home mistreatment can take many forms from passive neglect of daily care and improper supervision to active abuse such as physical or emotional harm.
If you suspect that your loved one has been mistreated while residing in a nursing home in Manhattan, a Manhattan nursing home abuse lawyer from our team can help you take legal action. Call our team at Dansker & Aspromonte Associates today at (212) 732-2929 for a free consultation.
The Elderly Can Get Lost in the Manhattan Shuffle
New York City’s elderly population, like the rest of the country, is expected to continue to grow throughout 2040, according to projections published by the New York City Comptroller.
Care for the elderly residents of nursing homes in Manhattan varies widely. Unfortunately, many of those residents either suffer from dementia or other limits in their ability to tell you how they are feeling or what is happening inside the nursing home when you are not there. In order to best protect your loved one, it is always a good idea to stay in regular contact with the nursing home staff and your loved one and be vigilant for signs of trouble. Even the most caring or involved family member can miss signs of nursing home mistreatment despite their best efforts.
Neglect of a Nursing Home Resident’s Care Can Be a Serious Problem
There are many different types of neglect that can occur in a nursing home to cause injury to your loved one and result in needless suffering. This can include:
- Failure to provide adequate hygiene and skin care resulting in bedsores
- Failure to properly supervise patients leading to falls and injuries
- Failure to ensure proper nutrition leading to weight loss and health problems
- Failure to administer necessary medications
- Failure to address medical conditions such as fevers and infections in a timely manner
The Elderly Are Frequent Targets for Abuse
According to a survey taken by the Office of Children and Family Services based on instances of abuse by the elderly population of New York, elder abuse is far more common than cases processed by law enforcement, legal authorities, and other official avenues would suggest.
Nursing home residents who suffer abuse are not uncommon within the national elderly population. The World Health Organization reports that a significant majority of surveyed nursing home and long-term care facility staffers admitted to participating in what can be considered elder abuse during the year prior to the study being conducted.
While nursing care is usually provided by loving and competent professionals, it is also important to consider the following:
- Not all nursing home staffers are qualified to care for your loved one.
- Not all nursing home staffers have your loved one’s best interests (including their health) at heart.
- Predators can—and do—achieve employment as caregivers and in other positions within nursing homes and could work at your loved one’s place of residence.
For these reasons, it is critical that you are aware of the possible signs of abuse.
Abuse Among the Elderly May Not Look How You Expect it To
Mistreatment in nursing homes takes several forms. It may manifest in the following forms:
- Over medication
- Physical abuse
- Emotional and psychological abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Neglect or isolation
- Financial exploitation
Each type of abuse may come with its own signs and symptoms. If your loved one cannot tell you directly, remaining regularly involved in their care can help you notice the signs of abuse or neglect.
If you see any of the following signs, call law enforcement and other protective authorities. You may next choose to call our team at Dansker & Aspromonte Associates at (212) 732-2929 if you want to explore your legal options, starting with a free consultation.
Possible Signs of Psychological, Sexual, Physical, or Emotional Abuse
If you notice changes in your loved one’s personality and patterns of behavior, do not rule out various forms of mistreatment as the cause. A nursing home resident who is being mistreated may:
- Show signs of withdrawal characteristic of depression
- Stop participating in activities they once enjoyed
- Have indications of physical trauma on their body, such as bruises, cuts, burns, or other unexplained injuries
- Suffer one or more serious injuries, such as one or more broken bones, internal injuries, dislocated limbs, or other unexplained (or unconvincingly explained) trauma
- Show signs of anxiety and fear—such as restlessness
- Show physical symptoms of chronic anxiety, such as losing hair or exhibiting physical indications of sleeplessness
- Have unexplained physical actions that indicate mistreatment, such as urinating unexpectedly
- Have bruises or are bleeding from regions that could indicate sexual abuse
A Nursing Home Abuse Victim May Be Entitled to Substantial Compensation
Depending upon the full nature and circumstances of the mistreatment or abuse, your loved one may be entitled to a significant monetary settlement. If we are successful in proving that the care provided to your loved one was below the standard required by law and injuries resulted, we may be able to recover money damages for:
- Pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life
- Mental anguish
- Medical bills relating to the injuries caused
- Scarring and disfigurement
Even if your loved one is no longer alive at the time our claim is resolved, the law permits the family to recover the fair and reasonable damages that would have been awarded to the victim of the abuse.
If You Feel That Your Loved One Is Being Abused Call Us Today
Once you contact us, we will immediately begin an investigation which may include:
- Obtaining all nursing home records
- Gathering all incident, police, and hospital reports documenting the abuse
- Hiring medical experts in nursing home procedures
- Evaluating all physical and/or psychological injuries sustained
- Identify the persons responsible for the abuse
You Are Not Required To Pay Any Money Upfront
If we agree to accept your case, we will not require that you pay any money for our services. We will advance all expenses for the case and only get paid a legal fee if we obtain money for you. If we don’t receive any money for you, you do not have to pay a legal fee.
Call Our Team at Dansker & Aspromonte Associates Today
For decades, the attorneys at Dansker & Aspromonte Associates have fought for the victims of nursing home abuse and neglect to ensure that they receive fair and just monetary compensation. Let us fight for you. Call our team at Dansker & Aspromonte Associates today at (212) 732-2929 for a free consultation.