We’d like to think that no one would harm our loved ones while under their care. Unfortunately, it does happen. Elderly and disabled individuals can find themselves subjected to neglect, abuse, and other harm while under the care of facilities and other care professionals.
This leaves you and those who love the individual upset and confused as to why this happened. Whatever the cause, the attorneys at Brown Chiari LLP are here to help you recover from the suffering your family has experienced.
The elderly and their families may feel helpless at the hands of those who may be neglecting or abusing them. You don’t have to feel helpless any longer. Seek help from an experienced Rochester nursing home abuse lawyer who has your best interests in mind.
Nursing home abuse in Rochester is when physical, financial, or psychological harm comes to a resident in a nursing home. This may be a single time or multiple acts of negligence and carelessness.
Abuse may result from negligence, carelessness, or even malicious intent of the visitors, employees, or other residents in the nursing home. Most individuals in Rochester nursing homes are elderly, aged 60 and over, but disabled individuals may also be residents, too.
Unsure how to help a loved one if you expect they’re being abused? Contact the authorities about the abuse. They can help you move your loved one. Then, talk to a lawyer about getting compensated for their suffering.
The abuse in Rochester nursing homes can happen in different ways with different signs. If you’re not sure what the warning signs are, it’s easy to miss details that could protect your loved one’s health and safety. Know what to watch out for in case your loved one may need help.
The purposeful use of force against a Rochester nursing home resident that causes them pain, injury, or impairment all counts as physical abuse. This can include anything from slapping and kicking to burning or even restraining someone.
Signs of physical abuse can include broken bones, unexplained cuts, bruises, burns, broken items such as eyeglasses, fearfulness, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). If your loved one has been acting differently or afraid, or if you’ve noticed new injuries, speak with a Rochester nursing home abuse attorney.
Psychological abuse is also known as emotional or mental abuse and it involves both verbal and nonverbal acts. This can cause psychological harm. These acts may include humiliation, gaslighting, social isolation, or intimidation.
Signs of psychological abuse include sudden changes in the resident’s behavior, fearfulness, extreme withdrawal, loss of enjoyment and depression, poor mental health, irritability, and difficulty sleeping. If your loved one doesn’t seem hurt but has changed, your lawyer can help.
Any non-consensual sexual acts done to another person that cannot give valid consent are considered sexual abuse. This can include anything from verbal sexual harassment, sodomy, unwanted touching, rape, and coerced nudity.
Some signs of sexual abuse may be visible, but not always. These signs can include refusal to be touched, genital infections, sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs), unexplained bleeding or bruising, refusal to be alone around specific individuals, and more.
Illegal, unauthorized, or improper use of someone’s personal information or property which includes money is known as financial abuse. This can happen in many ways, such as forging checks, stealing valuable items, or using credit cards.
Financial abuse isn’t always obvious. It may include unexplained bank withdrawals or credit card transactions, missing items, forged signatures, or inconsistent financial statements.
When the staff or caregiver fails to provide basic needs to the resident, it is considered neglect. This can include withholding food, water, medication, basic hygiene items, clothing, or medical care. This increases the risk of harm to the resident.
Signs of neglect can include poor hygiene, unexplained weight loss, dehydration or malnutrition, unsanitary conditions where they’re living, improper clothing for the specific weather conditions, medical errors or not being medicated, or lack of medical aids such as walkers or hearing aids.
You don’t have to fight this alone. Every elder abuse case is different, and your circumstances might differ from others. Speak with our Rochester law office about the specifics you’re going through to find out what options you may have for your loved ones.
At Brown Chiari LLP, we care about your loved one and want to help you through this difficult time. Give us a call at 716-681-7190 or fill out the contact form to get in touch with a Rochester nursing home abuse lawyer and schedule a free consultation. We are on your side.