Queens Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers

Nursing home residents are especially vulnerable to neglect or abuse because of underlying physical or cognitive medical problems. Physical injuries can confine your loved one to a wheelchair or bed, which significantly increases the chance that they will develop bedsores. Bedsores are serious skin wounds that can require surgical care or cause serious infections. Dementia or other cognitive conditions can limit your loved one’s ability to complain or report physical problems. If you have a loved one in a nursing home, it is critical that you consistently keep up with his or her care and remain vigilant to any signs that they are not receiving the 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 injured while residing in a nursing home, the lawyers at Dansker & Aspromonte Associates LLP can help you take legal action. Call our team at (646) 692-0204 for a free consultation.

Nursing Home Care Varies Widely

The quality of the care provided in nursing homes varies widely. Unfortunately, many nursing home residents suffer from dementia or other limits in their ability to tell you how they are feeling or what is happening inside the nursing home. In order to best protect your loved one, it is a good idea to stay in contact with the nursing home staff and your loved one and look out for signs of trouble. Even the most caring or involved family member can miss signs of mistreatment from nursing homes, despite their best efforts.

For a free legal consultation with our nursing home abuse lawyers in Queens, call (646) 692-0204.

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 and cause injury to your loved one and result in needless suffering. 

This can include:

• Failure to provide adequate hygiene
• Failure to properly supervise
• Failure to ensure proper nutrition
• Failure to administer necessary medications
• Failure to address medical conditions (such as fever and infection) in a timely manner

Nursing Home Neglect Can Have Serious Consequences

Signs of neglect are sometimes difficult to recognize. 

It is important to be watchful for these common and preventable injuries that may be indications of neglect:

• Bedsores
• Broken bones
• Bumps on the head or black and blue eye sockets
• Deep bruises
• Significant weight loss
• Infections or worsening medical problems

Elderly Nursing Home Residents Are Frequent Targets for Abuse

Nursing home resident abuse is not uncommon. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that a significant majority of staff members at nursing home and long-term care facilities admitted to participating in elder abuse.

While nursing care is usually provided by loving and competent professionals, it is also important to consider the following:

• Not all nursing home staff are qualified to care for your loved one
• Not all nursing home staff 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 be aware of the possible signs of abuse.

Contact our Queens nursing home abuse lawyers at
(646) 692-0204.

Abuse Among the Elderly May Not Look How You Expect It to

Mistreatment in nursing homes takes several forms. 

It may manifest as:

• Overmedication or drugging patients
• Use of restraints or isolation
• Emotional or psychological abuse
• Physical abuse such as hitting, pinching, or slapping
• Sexual abuse

Each type of abuse may come with its own signs and symptoms. If your loved one is unable to tell you directly, remaining regularly involved in their care can help you notice the signs of abuse or neglect.

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 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

Contact our Queens nursing home abuse attorneys today.

Nursing Home Abuse Victims May Be Entitled to Substantial Compensation

Depending on the 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, resulting in injuries, we may be able to recover damages for:

• Pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life
• Mental anguish
• Medical bills
• Scars and disfigurement

Even if your loved one is no longer alive at the time our claim is resolved, the law permits the families of victims to recover the fair and reasonable damages that the victim of the abuse would have been awarded if he or she were alive at the time the claim is resolved.

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