Atlantic County Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

Elder abuse is a common phenomenon, not only in private residences and hospitals, but also in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. Fortunately, when you discover abuse to a loved one, you may have legal recourse. Consulting an Atlantic County nursing home abuse lawyer could be the first step to getting justice for your elderly family members who have suffered abuse instead of receiving necessary care.

Not only can you recover monetary compensation for the injuries inflicted by the abuse, but you also may be able to hold institutions accountable for providing substandard care. Companies that are in the business of providing care to vulnerable loved ones must follow a specific standard of care. When they fail to live up to this duty, you may want to consult a knowledgeable Atlantic County personal injury attorney for advice.

Common Forms of Nursing Home Abuse

Nursing home abuse can take various forms, ranging from physical to verbal or even financial abuse. Some common types of nursing home abuse in Atlantic County may include:

• Physical abuse and neglect, such as failure to provide for basic food, hygiene, and medical needs
• Verbal and emotional abuse, typically to frighten, intimidate, or coerce the victim into specific behaviors
• Financial abuse or exploitation used to steal money, jewelry, and other valuables from vulnerable adults
• Sexual abuse by nursing home workers or other residents

Any of these types of abuse can be devastating or even fatal for nursing home residents. They can suffer irreparable physical and emotional injuries that can exacerbate existing medical conditions and impairments. As a result of this abuse, individuals may have legal claims against nursing home residents, staff, administrators, and the corporations that operate these facilities.

What Rights do Atlantic County Nursing Home Residents Have?

State law establishes specific rights for residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. Among these are the rights of residents to be free from physical and mental abuse. When nursing homes violate these rights, residents have the right to complain without fear of retribution from those who are supposed to care for them.

Nursing home residents also have rights to privacy, unless they need assistance with specific tasks, as well as protection for their possessions. These residents also have the right to dictate the terms of their daily activities and care to the greatest extent possible. An Atlantic County nursing home abuse attorney may be able to assist residents and their families when nursing home abuse occurs.

Who Can be Held Liable for Nursing Home Abuse?

Nursing homes and their staff members can face both civil and criminal liability for abusing and mistreating residents. Elder abuse statutes provide for criminal charges in some cases where victims are over the age of 60 or suffer from disabilities.

Likewise, nursing homes can be held liable for any damages due to the harm that their residents have suffered. Compensation in these suits may include payment of medical expenses related to the abuse, the costs of transferring the victims to alternate facilities, damages for pain and suffering, and property loss. Working with an Atlantic County premises liability lawyer could be crucial to holding nursing homes accountable for the unacceptable and abusive behaviors of their staff members.

Contact an Atlantic County Nursing Home Abuse Attorney Today

Nursing homes should be safe, clean, and comfortable spaces for individuals of advanced age who need consistent care. They never should allow people to suffer any form of abuse by those who are supposed to be caring for their basic needs. When this unthinkable form of abuse occurs, contacting an Atlantic County nursing home abuse lawyer may be highly beneficial.

Taking steps to hold nursing homes accountable for their poor and sometimes criminal behavior can prevent such incidents from occurring to other nursing home residents in the future. Not only can you seek compensation for the losses to your loved one, but you also can send a strong message that nursing home abuse will not be tolerated in our society.