The use of Adult Protective Services (APS) is a significant help to victims that have endured nursing home abuse. APS consists of services that promote the safety, independence, and improvement of quality of life for elderly residents in nursing homes who are in danger or have been abused, neglected, or financially exploited. APS, a social service program, is set up to protect and serve in every state and is authorized by law to investigate reports of any mistreatment of elderly adults. Victims of nursing home abuse can count on APS to intervene to the fullest extent possible.
If you have been a victim of nursing home abuse, you can count on adult protective services to take measures in protecting your wellbeing. Speaking to an experienced New York nursing home abuse lawyer can also benefit you by holding the responsible party accountable for their abusive and neglectful actions. You may be able to recover compensation for your injuries and other losses.
What Is Nursing Home Abuse in New York?
Abuse can be hard to detect in nursing homes. There are warning signs that can be observed in order to pinpoint the potential problems your loved one is experiencing. Warning signs of nursing home abuse can begin with one or more of the following:
- Untreated bedsores
- Untreated wounds and cuts
- Bruises or welts on your loved one
- Abnormally pale complexion
- Sudden and dramatic weight loss
- Fleas, lice, or dirt found on your loved one or in their room
- Poor personal hygiene, unpleasant odors
- Unattended health conditions
- Torn clothing or broken personal items
Nursing home abuse can come in different forms. It can include forms of physical, sexual, financial, and emotional abuse. From 2002 to 2016, more than 600,000 elderly adults were treated in emergency rooms for nonfatal physical abuse, while over 19,000 elderly adults were killed due to homicide. Abuse occurs at the hands of neglectful and abusive caregivers that the elderly resident trusts. Types of nursing home abuse include the following:
Physical Abuse in Nursing Homes
Physical abuse in a nursing home occurs when an elderly adult experiences illness, pain, injury, functional impairment, or death as the result of a caregiver using physical force such as hitting, slapping, pushing, kicking, or burning.
Sexual Abuse in Nursing Homes
Sexual abuse or harassment in a nursing home involves any unwanted sexual interaction with an elderly adult. This may include verbal sexual harassment or other sexual advances.
Psychological Abuse in Nursing Homes
Psychological or emotional abuse in nursing homes involves verbal and nonverbal behaviors that inflict emotional pain, anguish, distress, or fear. This may be threats, humiliation, disrespect, harassment, or isolation.
Neglect in Nursing Homes
Neglect and inadequate monitoring in nursing homes include the failure to meet an elderly adult’s basic needs. This can exacerbate other preexisting conditions or cause new health complications.
Financial Abuse in Nursing Homes
Financial abuse in nursing homes is the unauthorized, illegal, and improper use of an elderly adult’s financial benefits, money, belongings, property, or other assets.
How Adult Protective Services Help Victims of Nursing Home Abuse
APS helps victims of nursing home abuse by taking the reports of abuse seriously and investigating them. They evaluate the risk factors associated with the claims of abuse and design effective strategies to prevent or stop the abuse from occurring. Victims of nursing home abuse or the family members of victims may request help from APS. Other entities such as law enforcement and nursing home abuse attorneys may also request their assistance. Adult Protective services often work with law enforcement, mental health professionals, medical professionals, public health entities, and financial service providers.
The following are specific actions that APS takes in order to respond to nursing home abuse:
- Upon receiving reports of alleged abuse, neglect, self-neglect, or financial exploitation, APS investigates the allegations through interviews with the victim, contacts, and the alleged abuser(s)
- Examines evidence such as medical and bank documents
- Helps with the emergency need for food, shelter, or law enforcement protection
- Develops a case plan to stop the abuse
- Aims to assist with the client’s health and safety needs through medical or mental health treatment, housing assistance, legal assistance, financial assistance, personal care, and other needs.
APS uses all resources available to ensure that victims of nursing home abuse are taken out of their abusive situation or work to stop the abusive situation from reoccurring. If you or a loved one have been a victim of nursing home abuse, speak with an experienced New York nursing home abuse lawyer to obtain compensation for your losses. You may be able to hold the responsible party accountable for mistreatment and damages.
Speak With a Skilled New York Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer at Dalli & Marino
If you or a loved one have been a victim of nursing home abuse, Adult Protective Services helps to take measures to prevent and stop the abuse from reoccurring. When working with the lawyers at Dalli & Marino, we understand how abuse and emotional trauma can impact your life long-term. We are dedicated to passionately fighting for your rights and obtaining maximum financial compensation for the damages you have endured.
The legal team at Dalli & Marino provides the highest level of service and dedicated representation for victims of nursing home abuse. We have recovered millions of dollars for those who have endured substantial losses since 1996. Let us help you hold the negligent and abusive party responsible for your injuries with highly detailed and experienced service. Call us at (888) 465-8790 or fill out our contact form. We also speak Spanish.
