ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER
Residents with Dementia: Abuse and Neglect
When Families are the Only Voice
Nursing home residents afflicted with dementia are often unable to speak up for themselves and pursue help when they need it. Such residents are particularly vulnerable to abuse and neglect as they’re largely powerless to complain. Family members, loved ones, and friends may be their only advocates. The nursing home abuse attorneys at Evans Law Firm, Inc. represent victims and families of elderly persons injured by abuse or neglect in the nursing homes of Alameda County and throughout California. Our attorneys know how harmful nursing home abuse or neglect can be. If you or someone you know is suffering from nursing home abuse in Alameda County or elsewhere in California, call the nursing home abuse attorneys at Evans Law Firm today at 415-441-8669, and we can help.
One recently reported case[1] of nursing home neglect is particularly heart-wrenching. An 80-year-old male suffering from dementia was so neglected in his nursing home that he developed a severe bed sore, an ulcerated heel, a busted lip, a gash in his forehead, blood clots in his legs and severe infections in both of his feet. His daughter fought for better treatment and for investigation by the authorities. It turned out that in addition to the injuries her father sustained, the home had been issued 12 health violation citations and 10 fire safety problems in one month alone. Government agencies are investigating the case.
Nursing home abuse and neglect of any type can be fatal. If you suspect abuse or neglect, do something about it immediately. Notify the nursing home administrator who is required by law to report the situation to the authorities. And call qualified counsel like the nursing home abuse attorneys at Evans Law Firm to help you. If you have a loved one in a nursing home, visit as often as you can and monitor the care your loved one receives. Watch for signs of possible abuse or neglect:
- Bedsores/pressure ulcers or other poor skin conditions;
- Bruises, cuts and scratch marks;
- Falls;
- Injuries from wandering off unsupervised (known as elopement);
- Indication of sexual assault, rape or battery;
- Lack of equipment and supplies;
- Infrequent bathing/lack of attention to hygiene;
- Overmedication;
- Rapid weight loss;
- Dehydration;
- Abnormal or withdrawn behavior and unusual silence;
- Prolonged sleep or drowsiness;
- Agitation especially when certain caregivers are present;
- Reluctance to speak when staff is nearby;
- Unsanitary and unclean conditions in the resident’s room, dirty floors, soiled bed linens and clothes;
- Fear of being touched.
You know your loved one best and other observations may concern you. If you suspect any abuse or neglect, act on your suspicions at once.
Contact Us
If you or a loved one is or has been the victim of nursing home abuse in Alameda County or elsewhere in California, contact Ingrid M. Evans and the other nursing home abuse attorneys at the Evans Law Firm at (415) 441-8669, or by email at <a href=”mailto:info@evanslaw.com”>info@evanslaw.com</a>. We can help guide your case through a jury trial or toward an equitable settlement. We handle cases involving physical and financial elder abuse, qui tam and whistleblower law, nursing home abuse, whole life insurance and universal life insurance, and indexed, variable, and fixed annuities.
[1] Evans Law Firm, Inc. was not involved in the case in any way.
