Fayetteville, AR Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys

When we entrust the physical and emotional well-being of our elderly loved ones to assisted-living facilities and nursing homes, we expect they will be diligently supervised with care, compassion, and respect. Sadly, this is not always the reality of the situation. If you have entrusted the care of an elderly loved one to a nursing home, and you now suspect he or she is being abused and/or neglected by facility personnel, is there any legal action you can take?

Fortunately, the answer is yes. If you suspect your loved one is being abused at their nursing home facility, you may be able to bring a lawsuit for nursing home negligence or abuse. Through a civil claim, you could hold the abuser and facility accountable for what your loved one endured. Our skilled Fayetteville, AR nursing home abuse attorney would guide you through this difficult process.

Our team of lawyers has decades of experience handling nursing home abuse litigation. Our mission is to provide our clients with thorough, aggressive, effective legal representation to ensure that justice is upheld. We will work diligently to win fair compensation for the suffering your loved ones have endured. Call our law offices at (479) 316-0438 to schedule a free consultation.

Nursing Home Abuse Statistics

Unfortunately, nursing home abuse is more prevalent than anyone would like to consider. According to a recent study conducted by the Special Investigations Division of the House Government Reform Committee, 30% of all nursing homes in the United States — more than 5,200 facilities — were involved in more than 9,000 incidents of abuse over a two-year period. According to the report, the abuse violations in a total of 1,601 cases were described as placing the residents “in immediate jeopardy of death or serious injury.”

The already high rate of nursing home abuse is on the rise.  The same report determined that the percentage of nursing home facilities cited for abuse violations has increased annually since 1996 — nearly 25 years.

Most alarmingly of all, the American Association for Justice reports that 90% of all nursing homes in the United States have “staffing levels too low to provide adequate care.” In other words, 9 out of 10 American nursing homes provide inadequate care.

Warning Signs of Nursing Home Abuse in Fayetteville

Nursing home abuse can take many forms, including physical, emotional, sexual, and basic neglect. Regardless of how it manifests, nursing home abuse needs to be stopped the moment it is detected.

Unfortunately, such abuse is rarely reported to the appropriate authority.  In fact, the American Association for Justice reports that only 1 in 14 incidents of abuse are reported to the authorities.  Therefore, you need to be aware of the warning signs to make sure that your loved ones are kept healthy and safe.

Signs of Physical Abuse in Fayetteville Nursing Homes

Elder maltreatment is often difficult to distinguish from self-neglect. Your loved one may show signs of mistreatment because they failed to care for themselves. However, the physical abuse of nursing home residents is a growing problem. Loved ones need to be wary of indicators of elder abuse. In many cases, the abused victim fails to communicate the harm they are enduring.

There are some common signs of elder physical abuse. For example, if you see a pattern of hospitalization for similar injuries coupled with a delay in treatment, your loved one could be the victim of physical abuse. This is especially the case if there are inconsistencies or vague explanations regarding how an injury occurred. Another possible indicator of abuse is when your loved one receives treatment for their injuries at different medical facilities instead of the closest in proximity to the nursing home.

Below are some other symptoms and signs of physical abuse.

• Broken Bones
• Bed Sores
• Pressure Sores (Decubitus Ulcers)
• Medication Overdose
• Head Injury/Trauma
• Amputations
• Broken Glasses/Frames
• Signs of Restraint (e.g., rope marks)

Signs of Neglect in Fayetteville Nursing Homes

Nursing home neglect another form of elder abuse committed against residents of assisted living facilities. Neglect occurs when a patient receives substandard care. When this level of care results in harm, the nursing home is violating its duty to your loved one.

Many long-term care facilities treat their elderly residents with care and respect. Unfortunately, others do not. If you believe your loved one’s needs are being neglected, do not hesitate to contact our Fayetteville nursing home abuse attorney. While physical abuse might appear intentionally are harmful, neglect is just as bad and unacceptable. Report any allegations of neglect to the facility and contact our Fayetteville nursing home abuse attorney.

Neglect is often the result of insufficient staffing. Overworked and stressed employees might not be able to provide the care residents require. However, this is not an excuse and does not mean that the staff or facility should not be held liable. Another common cause of neglect is improper training. When a nursing home fails to train or vet its employees, the level of care could suffer.

Neglect takes various forms, including medical, emotional, or hygienic negligence. For instance, overworked staff could fail to administer medication or regularly move elderly residents with mobility issues. Emotional neglect occurs when residents are isolated or otherwise ignored. Many residents also rely on their caregivers to regularly dress and wash them.

Below are some signs that could indicate your loved one’s needs are being neglected.

• Malnutrition
• Unusual Weight Loss
• Dehydration
• Poor Hygiene
• Soiled Bedding

Signs of Emotional Abuse in Fayetteville, AR Nursing Homes

While a nursing home resident could suffer from emotional or social neglect, emotional abuse is different. When an elderly victim is emotionally abused, their self-confidence is eroded and their ability to love themselves is attacked. Emotionally abused nursing home residents believe that no one will care for them.

Emotional abuse does not leave physical scars, so the only way to protect your loved one is to be aware of the signs and be prepared to take steps to stop it – including contacting an experienced Fayetteville nursing home abuse attorney.

Since there are rarely any physical indicators, family members must be aware of the emotional indicators of abuse. If your loved one demonstrates any of the symptoms listed below, especially if they are deviations from their normal personality, you should investigate the quality of their treatment.

• Agitation
• Withdrawal
• Fear
• Abuse Complaints
• Frequent Crying
• Emotional Outbursts
• Behavioral Changes

Signs of Sexual Abuse in Fayetteville Nursing Homes

Unfortunately, sexual abuse of the elderly in nursing homes is under-researched and poorly understood. Victims of sexual abuse in Fayetteville nursing homes often suffer from medical conditions that limit their ability to communicate, leave them in states of confusion, or result in memory loss. These conditions interfere with their ability to report or even understand what is occurring.

A predator in a nursing home could be another resident, a member of the staff, or a visiting healthcare provider. No matter who has abused your loved one, they should be held responsible. If you believe your family member is a victim of sexual abuse, contact local law enforcement and our Fayetteville nursing home sexual abuse attorney.

There are many forms of sexual abuse of the elderly. Some typical signs and indicators of inappropriate sexual conduct are listed below.

• Breast/Genital Bruising
• Venereal Disease
• Genital Infections
• Vaginal/Anal Bleeding
• Torn/Stained/Bloody Undergarments

Financial Abuse in Fayetteville Nursing Homes

While it might not receive the same media attention as other forms of elder abuse, nursing home residents are often victims of financial abuse. Also called material exploitation, nursing home financial abuse occurs someone with power or authority improperly or illegally uses another’s funds, assets, or property.

Nursing home residents are in a uniquely dangerous position. They rely on their caregivers, often placing unwarranted trust in them, and are without the supervision of loving family members. These vulnerable individuals are often the targets of unscrupulous nursing home staff members. Some examples of financial abuse include the following.

• Forging a resident’s signature
• Cashing a resident’s check without permission
• Using a resident’s credit card
• Making unauthorized withdrawals from a resident’s bank account

Unlike other forms of abuse, there are no physical signs to look for to determine if your loved one is a victim of financial abuse. If possible, you should review your loved one’s financial statements and accounts from time to time. Additionally, if your relative avoids answering questions about their financial situation or appears apprehensive when you bring up the subject, it could be a sign that something is amiss. If you are aware of any unusual purchases, charges, or withdrawals, you should contact our Arkansas nursing home abuse attorneys.

Proving Nursing Home Abuse in Fayetteville, Arkansas

Proving nursing home abuse is challenging, even if your loved one has visible signs of injuries. Unfortunately, elderly adults are prone to accidents and their bodies are more susceptible to bruising. Furthermore, many nursing home residents have dementia or take medication that affects their memories or judgment. Singularly or combined, these conditions often make it difficult for a victim of abuse to report what has occurred. In many cases, it is up to a loved one to take proactive steps to gather evidence to prove the abuse happened. Our Fayetteville nursing home abuse lawyer has the resources and knowledge to assist in this task.

If you believe your loved one is the victim of abuse, you should begin by asking them questions and taking detailed notes of their responses. Additionally, you should note your own observations, paying close attention to your loved one’s physical appearance, bruises, and emotional state. Photographs are also helpful. Pictures of your loved one or the condition of the facility and their room could be compelling evidence in a lawsuit. Do not hesitate to ask for explanations from the staff if something appears wrong and take thorough notes of what they say.

It is also helpful to be active in your loved one’s medical care. For example, you should be aware of their medical history, so if anything appears troubling or out of the ordinary, you are able to compare it with their known condition.

Damages Available if Your Loved One Was Abused in a Fayetteville Nursing Home

Damages are the financial representation of a victim’s losses, harm, or injuries. In a personal injury lawsuit, damages are intended to compensate nursing home residents and their families for abuse or injuries. Some of the damages are easy to calculate, such as medical bills. However, others are intangible and quickly become complicated. For example, how do you set a price on an individual’s mental anguish?

Typically, there are two broad categories of damages available: compensatory and punitive. Compensatory damages are further broken down into economic and non-economic damages.

Compensatory damages are awarded to compensate an injured person for the harm they endured. Some harm is financial in nature, such as medical expenses or lost income. These types of damages are often called economic damages. You could also suffer harm that is not related to financial losses, such as physical pain, emotional distress, loss of companionship, and mental anguish. These harder to define damages are known as non-economic damages.

Economic Damages

One of the most common economic damages are a victim’s medical expenses. Victims of nursing home abuse are entitled to recover any medical expenses incurred because of the abuse. For example, a victim could be compensated for hospitalization, rehabilitation expenses, the cost of required medical equipment or medication, or the expense of physical or psychological therapy.

In a nursing home abuse case, the calculation of medical expenses often becomes very complicated. In many cases, the initial cost will be paid by Medicare, Medicaid, or a private health insurer. Nonetheless, a victim of abuse must obtain a full accounting of all related medical expenses. One reason for this is because a victim’s non-economic damages will often be based on their economic losses. In most nursing home abuse lawsuits, the victim’s non-economic damages are significantly greater, so it is important to prove the full extent of the medical expenses.

If your family member was the victim of financial abuse, such as a caregiver misusing their credit cards or gaining access to their bank account, they should be able to recover their lost funds as well.

In many personal injury lawsuits, lost income is a substantial part of a victim’s economic damages. However, in a nursing home abuse claim, an elderly resident rarely works. In the event that a victim had a part-time job, they should be compensated for any lost wages.

Non-Economic Damages

In any personal injury case, non-economic damages are the most disputed. This is especially true in a nursing home abuse case. While victims of abuse are entitled to fully recover their non-economic damages, they are challenging to calculate.

Common examples of non-economic damages include mental anguish, physical pain, emotional distress, insomnia, depression, and loss of enjoyment of life. Placing a dollar amount on this type of harm is not easy; there are no receipts available.

While there is no definitive mathematical equation to calculate non-economic damages, there are some guiding principles used by insurance companies, attorneys, and courts. In many cases, a victim’s non-economic damages are determined by calculating their medical expenses by a set multiplier. For example, our Arkansas personal injury lawyers might use a multiplier of three or four – an insurance company might opt for one or two.

To illustrate how a multiplier works, imagine that your elderly family member was a victim of nursing home abuse resulting in $30,000 in medical expenses. If our office applied a multiplier of three to the case, their non-economic damages would total $90,000. These additional damages would be added to the $30,000 of medical expenses. You want to ensure you have an attorney that will aggressively fight for your non-economic damages. If your loved one was the victim of abuse, you do not want to settle for less than they deserve.

Punitive Damages

In some Arkansas nursing home abuse cases, a victim might be awarded punitive damages. It should be noted before discussing punitive damages that they are rarely awarded. However, if your loved one was the victim of extreme abuse or neglect, the likelihood of punitive damages increases.

Unlike compensatory damages, punitive damages are not necessarily related to your loved one’s harm. They are not intended to make the victim whole. The purpose of punitive damages is to punish a defendant for their negligence and malice. The broader intent is to disincentivize similar conduct from occurring again. The idea is to not only award damages to an abuse victim, but to prevent further abuse in the future. Punitive damages are very difficult to calculate and will only be awarded on a case-by-case basis. In nearly every instance, the court will determine if punitive damages are appropriate and what they should be.

Contact Our Experienced Fayetteville, AR Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys For a Free Consultation

If you believe your loved one has been abused or is at risk of abuse, contact our Arkansas personal injury lawyers immediately.  We are highly experienced in negotiating and litigating nursing home abuse cases and will advocate for you and your loved ones to better your chances of receiving appropriate compensation. Ken can help you recognize the signs of abuse or neglect, and work to obtain justice and compensation for you and your family.  We litigate aggressively for our clients and don’t get paid until you do. To speak privately with a Fayetteville personal injury attorney, call our law offices at (479) 316-0438, or contact us online.