Nashville, Tennessee
Nursing home neglect occurs when staff members fail to provide proper care for residents. Over time, this neglect can lead to severe health issues as well as more serious forms of abuse.
In most cases, nursing home neglect can be attributed to staffing issues. Many nursing homes are not adequately staffed to provide the necessary care for all of their residents. Other nursing homes do not conduct thorough background checks before hiring employees or fail to provide them with the proper training.
Nursing home residents have rights. If you believe your loved one has been the victim of negligent care, the Nashville nursing home neglect lawyers at James R. Omer & Associates can help you protect your loved one’s rights.
Types of Nursing Home Neglect
Nursing home neglect can take several different forms, including:
- Physical abuse
- Emotional abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Abandonment
Physical abuse occurs when a staff member inflicts bodily harm on a resident through the use of physical force. Examples include:
- Hitting
- Pushing
- Burning
- Slapping
- Kicking
- Excessive use of restraining methods
- Inappropriate or excessive drugging
Emotional abuse occurs when a staff member inflicts mental pain or distress on a resident through verbal or nonverbal actions. Emotional abuse can exist regardless of whether the actions are intentional. Examples include:
- Verbal insults
- Intimidation
- Humiliation
- Harassment
- Placing a resident in isolation
Sexual abuse of a nursing home resident is perhaps the most serious form of neglect. Sexual abuse has taken place when a staff member engages in nonconsensual sexual behavior with a resident. Examples include:
- Coerced sex
- Touching in a sexual manner
- Rape
- Sexual assault
- Sexually explicit photographing
Abandonment occurs when a staff member deserts a resident in a situation where the resident requires care or treatment. Abandonment often results in a nursing home resident being deprived of essential needs such as food, water, hygiene, or medical treatment.
What to Do if You Suspect Nursing Home Neglect
Often, victims of nursing home neglect may not report the abusive behavior for several reasons. They may be embarrassed to speak up, they may fear retaliation from staff members, or they may not be able to communicate well enough to report the abusive behavior.
If you notice signs of nursing home neglect, you should seek medical attention for your loved one immediately. Once you are confident your loved one’s health has been properly cared for, you should seek the assistance of an experienced nursing home neglect lawyer.
The attorneys at James R. Omer & Associates have handled many nursing home neglect cases. We have the skills and experience to ensure that your loved one’s rights are protected, and we will provide you with compassionate representation and sound legal guidance throughout the entire process. It is important that negligent nursing homes are held accountable for their actions so that others do not suffer needlessly in the future.
Please contact our Nashville nursing home neglect lawyers today to schedule your free initial consultation.
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