Filed under: Nursing Home Abuse
Watch For These Signs of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
Making the decision to place your loved one in a nursing home can be an emotional one. You want to make sure they receive the care and attention they need, and you want to ensure…
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Making the decision to place your loved one in a nursing home can be an emotional one. You want to make sure they receive the care and attention they need, and you want to ensure they feel safe and comfortable during their residence. Even if you’ve done your research and feel that you have placed them in the best facility to fit their needs, it’s hard to know what goes on when you aren’t around.
At Richard Harris Personal Injury Law Firm, we know how devastating it can be to discover your loved one suffered from nursing home abuse or neglect. When negligent nursing homes in Nevada fail to uphold their commitment to providing the highest standard of care, their negligence can result in abuse or neglect towards residents.
Nursing home residents may be too afraid to speak up for themselves, and in some cases, they may be unable to. If you suspect nursing home abuse or neglect may be happening to your loved one, it’s important to be on the lookout for common warning signs, such as:
- Poor hygiene
- Bedsores or bruises
- Sudden or significant weight loss
- Unexplained injuries
- Pale complexion
If you believe your loved one was the victim of nursing home abuse or neglect in Las Vegas, the Nevada nursing home abuse attorneys at Richard Harris Personal Injury Law Firm want to help. We’ve been serving injury victims in Nevada for nearly 40 years, and we’re ready to put our experience to work for you and your family. Contact us today for a free case review.
Filed under: Nursing Home Abuse
How Can a Lawyer Help After Nursing Home Abuse?
Nursing homes are supposed to be places where people can get specialized and around-the-clock care, attention, and support. The family members of nursing home residents trust management teams, healthcare providers, and staff members to do…
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Nursing homes are supposed to be places where people can get specialized and around-the-clock care, attention, and support. The family members of nursing home residents trust management teams, healthcare providers, and staff members to do everything they can to make sure their loved ones are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. But that doesn’t always happen, and a shocking number of nursing home residents are abused or neglected every year in Nevada.
At Richard Harris Personal Injury Law Firm, our dedicated team of Las Vegas nursing home abuse lawyers fights to help residents and their families get compensation after being mistreated by nursing home employees. Not only are you paying for them to look after your loved one, but you’re also trusting they’ll take the proper steps to protect their well-being and even their life. Finding out that your trust was misplaced and violated can be devastating.
Contact Our Lawyers After Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect
If you suspect or discover your loved one was abused or neglected while living in a nursing home, you may face an uphill battle with the facility’s management and ownership. While they may deny wrongdoing, our attorneys are ready to protect you and your loved one by:
- Establishing your loved one’s rights as a nursing home resident
- Proving negligence or abuse occurred
- Linking injuries, poor health, or complications to abuse or neglect
- Negotiating to get you and your loved one maximum compensation
Get in touch with our legal team today to get the legal representation you deserve during this difficult time. We know what you’re going through, and it’s our goal to help you get the compensation you and your loved one need to move forward with your lives.
Filed under: Blog, Nursing Home Abuse
Is My Parent or Loved One Being Abused in a Nursing Home?
The population of the United States is aging. Without getting too technical, the proportion of the population age 65 and older has increased from less than 20 million in 1960, to about 46 million in…
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The population of the United States is aging. Without getting too technical, the proportion of the population age 65 and older has increased from less than 20 million in 1960, to about 46 million in the U.S. today. Beyond that, the proportion of the population over 65 is currently 15 percent, up from nine percent in 1960. It’s expected that by 2030, the proportion of the total population over 65 will increase to 21 percent, amounting to about 75 million people.
With age, comes the need for care. Health issues associated with aging will stress our current health care system. As the number of retirees increases in relation to the number of people working, resources will be constrained, which may lead to a decrease in resources available to care for the elderly. Due to multiple factors, institutional living for those 65 and older will most likely increase.
Abuse and Neglect Defined (NRS 200.5092)
Nevada law recognizes several types of abuse of older persons. These include physical or mental abuse, neglect, exploitation, and isolation.
Under Nevada law, abuse of an older person is defined as the willful and unjustified infliction of pain, injury or mental anguish or deprivation of food, shelter, clothing, or services necessary to maintain the physical or mental health of a person older than 60. This may include a serious or unexplained injury, sexual assault, physical or chemical restraint, or medication abuse.
Neglect is defined as a failure to provide food, clothing, shelter, medical care, or personal hygiene. Bedsores, lack of hygiene, dehydration or malnutrition, may all be signs of neglects.
Exploitation is an attempt to gain control of money, assets or property. This type of abuse may exist under guardianship or power of attorney, among others.
Isolation means preventing an older person from contact with another person. This may include limiting visitation, phone calls, mail from others, or physical restraint, or any activity to limit and control contact with others.
Nevada Nursing Home Care Quality
Many organizations provide report cards of nursing home care in comparison to the other states. Unfortunately, Nevada has ranked in the bottom half of these reports, meaning that the quality of care provided by Nevada Nursing Homes is average at best. Nevada received an F grade from one such report card as recently as 2013.
Abuse and neglect of those in nursing homes is all too common in our state. If you have a parent or loved one living in a nursing home in Nevada, there are several warning signs of abuse or neglect.
Signs of Abuse or Neglect
There are many things that can indicate whether an older person is suffering from abuse or neglect from a caretaker such as a nursing home. The following are a few examples:
- Unexplained bruises, cuts or burns
- Bedsores on back, buttocks or legs
- Weight loss due to dehydration or malnutrition
- Over medication or sedation
- Unusual confinement, such as being closed off in a room, or being tied to furniture
- Lack of cleanliness, grooming, or dental hygiene
- Fear of speaking in presence of caretaker
- Anxiety, confusion, withdrawal, depression
- Loss of possessions
The Richard Harris Law Firm Represents Victims of Nursing Home Abuse
If you suspect your parent or loved one living in a nursing home or assisted living facility is suffering from the effects of abuse or neglect, call our office today. Our attorneys are committed to the rights of older persons to receive quality care, and will use their legal skills and experience to obtain justice for victims of abuse from caregivers. Call us today to discuss your situation at (702) 444-4444.
Read More:
http://www.prb.org/pdf16/aging-us-population-bulletin.pdf
https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-200.html#NRS200Sec5091
http://adsd.nv.gov/Programs/Seniors/EPS/EPS_Prog/
https://nevadaadrc.com/lib/sections/eapt/elder_abuse_training.pdf
https://www.medicare.gov/nursinghomecompare/search.html?
https://seniorhousingnews.com/2017/06/14/best-worst-states-long-term-care/
https://health.usnews.com/best-nursing-homes
http://www.lasvegasnow.com/news/report-nv-nursing-homes-among-the-worst-in-the-country/72456262
Filed under: Nursing Home Abuse
Impartial Advice on Choosing a Nursing Home
This phenomenal video from Richard Harris Law Firm outlines the details of what to look for when considering a nursing home for your loved one. Watch the video then contact us for a free consultation…
Read moreThis phenomenal video from Richard Harris Law Firm outlines the details of what to look for when considering a nursing home for your loved one. Watch the video then contact us for a free consultation if you need help filing a nursing home claim.
