The elderly are one of the more susceptible populations to be abused and neglected in the United States. Every year, there are new cases involving the elderly in nursing homes, from abuse and neglect – which can include the patient choking on his/her food, falling out of the bed, aimlessly wandering out of the nursing home, bedsores from gross neglect – to medication neglect practices.
Imagine having your loved one rely on the daily care of a nursing home because they are unable to help themselves and you have discovered that they have been laying around in their own excrement, or not obtaining help in a timely manner, resulting in unnecessary discomfort or injury? These types of incidences are occurring in nursing homes all over the country. There are an estimated 20,000 cases of nursing home abuse cropping up every year.
Are you noticing your loved one being over or under medicated, showing unexplained injuries or bruises, experiencing rapid weight loss or gain, dehydration, bedsores, malnutrition, infections, broken bones or sudden death? If so, these are the signs of possible abuse and neglect.
Of course, you also should inspect the nursing home or assisted living facility. Is it sanitary? Does it have qualified staff? Are there signs of caregiver signs and frustration? Are the employees overworked or understaffed?
There are state agencies that investigate these cases, but one who suspects that neglect and abuse are happening to any of their loved ones should also seek a nursing abuse lawyer such as Stratton Faxon, a Connecticut law firm that specializes in these cases. You and your family have the right to pursue a claim for damages relating to the nursing home abuse injuries. When Connecticut nursing home abuse or neglect results in an injury to your loved one, securing compensation for your loved one’s medical care and pain and suffering is not only your recourse, but you would also be helping to fight nursing home abuse.
For more information, please visit Medicare and your Department of Health’s website concerning these issues. Regardless of age, everyone has a right to dignified and quality health care, and abuse or neglect of the elderly is a reprehensible offense.
Alexandra Reed writes for Connecticut personal injury law firm, Stratton Faxon. Contact Stratton Faxon to speak with a Connecticut accident lawyer about your personal injury, wrongful death, or Connecticut malpractice case. To learn more, visit Strattonfaxon.com.
