Often, people fail to consider the likelihood of their elderly loved ones being neglected or abused by the nursing homes staff entrusted to care for them. It may be difficult for your elderly loved ones to communicate that they are being ignored, exploited, or abused due to age or illness. Consequently, negligence and physical and mental abuse often go undiscovered within nursing homes.
If you suspect or witness nursing home neglect, do not delay contacting a Queens nursing home neglect attorney immediately. At Dalli & Marino, LLP, we have dedicated our practice to helping nursing home residents and their families obtain the justice they deserve against negligent and abusive nursing home facilities. If you believe your elderly loved one is suffering neglect in a Queens nursing home facility, please contact us today.
Nursing Home Neglect in Queens, NY
According to the National Center for Victims of Crime, neglect makes up 14% of complaints against nursing home facilities. There are a few critical differences between nursing home abuse and neglect. Nursing home abuse occurs when nurses or staff members deliberately harm elderly residents. Neglect happens when a caretaker fails to look after and care for an elderly person’s health needs.
Nursing home negligence and abuse can occur in various ways:
- Neglect: Indications of nursing home neglect include lack of hygiene, unexplained weight loss, bedsores, dehydration, soiled sheets, urine or fecal odors, and abandoned housekeeping.
- Physical abuse: If you observe unexplained injuries or bruises at the arms or limbs, that may signal that your loved one has been mistreated or restrained without reason.
- Sexual abuse: This is linked to sexual abuse by care providers or by unmonitored residents due to inadequate security procedures. Warning signs include bloody clothing or bedding, sexually transmitted diseases, and genital pain.
- Emotional abuse: Nursing home residents are at risk of bullying and psychological cruelty by staff and nurses. Indications that your loved one is suffering emotional abuse include withdrawal, anxiety, fear of particular staff members, or rejection to visit family.
- Financial exploitation: This involves the illegal or unethical use of an elderly adult’s financial resources, property, or assets. An increasingly prevalent type of abuse, financial exploitation can persist for a long time before being discovered.
Looking for a well-experienced Queens nursing home neglect lawyer? Contact us today and schedule a free consultation.
Bedsores Are a Warning Sign of Neglect in Queens Nursing Homes
Far from making a simple error, neglect is a repetition of failures that cause nursing home residents to suffer long-term wounds. For instance, elderly nursing home residents are neglected when they’re left sitting or lying in their bed for several days, causing painful and potentially life-threatening bedsores.
Bedsores, or pressure sores, are often the first sign of neglect within nursing homes. Nursing home staff and nurses are entrusted to helping residents adjust positions in bed, take care of their hygienic needs, and move around when they’re otherwise unable to from injuries or immobility. If areas of the skin are under pressure for prolonged periods, bedsores and ulcers can form and grow at an alarming rate, potentially affecting the muscle and bone.
If you have a loved one in a nursing home, it is critical to be aware of the warning signs of neglect. Should they voice discomfort, or you believe they’re suffering from bedsores, consult an experienced nursing home neglect attorney in Queens, NY immediately.
Brain Injuries Are Frequently the Result of Nursing Home Neglect
Brain injuries are a catastrophic repercussion of nursing home neglect in Queens and across the State of New York. An elderly resident may fall and suffer brain injuries from improper doses of medication, short bed rails, and slick, dirty floors. Nursing home staff have an obligation to protect and care for elderly residents with disabilities and medical conditions. When caregivers and nursing home staff disregard this duty to take care, the consequences can be devastating and sometimes fatal.
At Dalli & Marino, LLP, our team of Queens nursing home neglect attorneys are passionate advocates for nursing home negligence victims who endure brain injuries or other traumas stemming from nursing home neglect.
What Damages Can I Recover in a Nursing Home Neglect Claim?
Suppose you or an elderly loved one has suffered neglect and abuse at a Queens nursing home or long-term care facility. In that case, you may be entitled to pursue a civil lawsuit against that facility to secure reimbursement for your damages. Our Queens nursing home neglect lawyers are committed to fighting for just financial compensation in two categories: compensatory damages and punitive damages.
Compensatory damages are designed to reimburse you for the losses incurred due to neglect and abuse, including repayment for:
- Medical costs
- Physical abuse
- Pain and suffering
- Malnutrition
- Dehydration
- Disfigurement
- Lost wages
Punitive damages, on the other hand, do not compensate for the losses of the victim. This type of compensation is awarded to punish those responsible for reprehensible acts and discourage others from acting similarly. While not every nursing home neglect claim is granted punitive damages, our Queens nursing home negligence lawyers advocate vigorously to secure this compensation when nursing home neglect victims are deliberately and appallingly mistreated.
Schedule a Free Consultation with a Queens Nursing Home Negligence Attorney
If you suspect your elderly loved one is being neglected or abused in a Queens nursing home, do not hesitate to contact the skilled nursing home neglect attorneys at Dalli & Marino, LLP. Since 1995, Dalli & Marino has been advocating people’s rights. We are committed to working hard to recover damages for the pain and suffering you or a loved one has endured due to poor care and neglect in a nursing home or long-term care facility.
To consult with a Queens nursing home neglect lawyer at Dalli & Marino, LLP about your circumstances, schedule a free consultation by calling 888-465-8790 or completing our contact form.
