Middletown Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

Connecticut has strict laws on the treatment of the elderly, especially concerning those in nursing homes. Elder abuse is specifically defined in Connecticut state law as a deliberate act that causes personal injury to an elderly person. This type of personal injury can be physical, emotional, or both. It can include the intentional withholding of necessary services, as well as abandonment and exploitation.

Connecticut nursing home abuse is divided into five categories:

Exploitation
A person uses his or her position of responsibility to take advantage of the older person for personal gain. This may involve using threats, intimidation, manipulation, or coercion to take the nursing home resident’s money, property, or assets.

Neglect
A person, an institution, or the staff that voluntarily, legally, or contractually has committed to caring for an older person, yet fails to do so. The guilty party was required to provide the necessary shelter, food, and clothing and must maintain the physical and emotional health of the older person.

Physical abuse
Physical abuse involves the deliberate physical force against a resident which causes physical pain or injury. Nursing home physical abuse can include:

• Excessive or unnecessary restraint for an unneeded amount of time
• Pushing, shoving, slapping, and hitting
• Forcibly making a resident consume foods or drinks

Sexual abuse
Non-consensual sexual contact with a resident in a Connecticut nursing home is sexual abuse.

Many times, victims are unable to communicate that they have been abused, so be alert to signs of sexual abuse. For example, if you observe a staff member that is inappropriately affectionate with your loved one or another resident.

Emotional abuse
A nursing home employee uses verbal or nonverbal actions and words to cause mental pain or distress. Among the most common forms of emotional abuse are:

• Verbal assaults
• Silent treatment
• Harassment
• Bullying

Understanding elder abuse laws and their application can be difficult. This is why it is especially important to retain a nursing home abuse attorney who is knowledgeable and capable. Contact our law firm to speak with a nursing home neglect attorney who can help you.

In Connecticut, reporting the suspicion of elder abuse in a nursing home is a legal requirement. The laws here in Connecticut regarding nursing home abuse reporting are similar to the regulations on reporting child abuse. Individuals who fail to report suspected cases of elder abuse can be fined, or possibly imprisoned.

There are clues and evidence that may indicate neglect or abuse occurring in a nursing home. Of course, not every situation is the same.

The following are some of the more prevalent signs of elder mistreatment in a nursing home that you should be aware of:

• Over-medication
• Excessive access restriction, for example, not being permitted to leave the room
• Uncleanliness of room, personal appearance, or dental hygiene
• Nervousness when speaking in the presence of a caretaker
• Anxiety
• Confusion
• Withdrawal
• Depression
• Infections
• Unexplained bruises or cuts, perhaps even burns
• Bedsores on the legs, buttocks, or back
• Weight loss because of dehydration or malnutrition
• Missing or unexplained loss of possessions
• Unusual financial transactions

If you suspect neglect and abuse on the part of a specific caregiver or the nursing care facility, first and foremost, you must ensure the safety of your loved one. Once he or she is safe, report your suspicions to the authorities. You can file your complaint of nursing home abuse or neglect with Connecticut’s State Survey Agency.

Then, as soon as possible, contact the law firm of Gould Injury Law serving Middletown, CT, for a free consultation to discuss what has happened and learn your options. Your loved one may be able to be rightly compensated for such a terrible experience.

Receiving fair compensation for the mistreatment and neglect of your loved one will allow him or her to regain good health and dignity, along with ensuring that he or she will receive quality care in a new facility.

The specifics of each nursing home abuse claim are different and affect the compensation you can receive. However, a recent study in the Health Affairs journal commented that the average amount recovered in a nursing home abuse case, either out of court or in court, is $406,000.

The amount that can be recovered in a nursing home abuse case is largely affected by the injuries of the victim and the extent of property loss. Additionally, the pain and suffering experienced by the victim may also be considered.

Damages usually fall into three categories.

Economic damages
These take into account the monetary expenses of past and ongoing medical costs and repayment of stolen property such as:

• Hospital bills
• Doctor visits
• Medical testing
• Physical therapy
• Future medical care
• Stolen property
• Stolen money

Non-economic damages
Connecticut courts recognize that victims of nursing home abuse also suffer non-monetary injuries and thus deserve compensation that recognizes these sad consequences.

These types of consequences may drastically reduce a victim’s quality of life with:

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress including sleeplessness, anxiety, fear, and depression
• Permanent impairments caused by the injury

Punitive damages
Punitive damages are meant to punish the nursing home with the hope of putting a stop to future abuse or neglect of any resident.

To ensure that you receive the maximum compensation in your nursing home abuse case, contact Gould Injury Law at 888-WIN-FAST.