Stamford Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

When caregivers at a nursing home who are supposed to be providing care to their patients deliberately harm them, this is nursing home abuse, which is a form of medical malpractice. This abuse can come in the form of intentional refusal to provide patients basic health necessities such as food, water, medicine, and medical treatment. Additionally, it can include sexual, physical, or financial injury.

Nursing home neglect is when the facility or a staff member ignores the needs of the patient. This type of nursing home negligence may be the fault of the facility due to understaffing meant to cut costs. Or employees may neglect their duties because of carelessness or inattention. These may not be malicious actions but can be just as harmful.

The laws concerning the treatment of the elderly are strict here in Stamford, Connecticut. Nursing home abuse in Connecticut is arranged into five categories:

Exploitation: Caregivers take advantage of their patients’ vulnerable situation to benefit themselves. To accomplish this, they might make threats, use intimidation, manipulation, or coercion. Their purpose is to steal or inappropriately use the nursing home resident’s money, property, or assets.

Neglect: Certain provisions must legally be made available for an elderly patient when a nursing home has willingly entered into a legal agreement to do so. These provisions include necessary shelter, food, and clothing. Additionally, the physical and emotional health of the older person must receive attention and care. It is considered neglect when these are not provided.

Physical abuse: A caregiver uses physical force to a degree that causes physical pain or injury to the elderly patient. Nursing home physical abuse can include:

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

Sexual abuse: Elder sexual abuse refers to any kind of sexual conduct or contact against a person over the age of 60 without his or her consent.  Non-consensual sexual contact with a resident in a Connecticut nursing home is sexual abuse.

Emotional abuse: A caregiver uses words or other non-verbal forms of communication to create fear and anxiety in the patient or resident. Among the most common forms of emotional abuse are:

• Verbal assaults
• Silent treatment
• Harassment
• Bullying

With these complicated legal issues at hand, having a knowledgeable and capable nursing home abuse attorney is crucial. A lawyer can help you and your loved one make sense of what has happened and what needs to happen next. Contact our law firm to speak with a nursing home neglect attorney who can provide fast, timely assistance.

There may be signs that your loved one is being abused. It’s important to be aware of these signs so that you can help him or her as fast as you can.

The common signs that an elderly person is being abused include:

• Abnormal anxieties and fears
• Mysterious injuries and bruising
• Personal items that are missing
• Unexplained withdrawals or inconsistencies in bank accounts
• Unusual or unexplainable credit card charges
• Strange emergency room admissions

Unfortunately, nursing home negligence and abuse is not uncommon. As a result of their limitations, elderly individuals are especially vulnerable to mistreatment. The abuser could be staff members or even other residents. To know for sure, you will need an attorney who can get answers for you from the nursing home. The personal injury attorneys at Gould Injury Law will help you do just that. 

Reporting elder abuse is a serious issue here in Connecticut. For some individuals, even not reporting cases of elder abuse is a criminal matter. Anyone shirking this responsibility can be fined or even imprisoned.

If you suspect that your loved one has been physically harmed or is in danger, take action to get them fast help immediately. The safety, health, and dignity of your loved one is the most important thing.

After that crucial first step is taken, you should report your concerns immediately. A complaint can be filed with the Connecticut State Survey Agency. This agency examines allegations of abuse or neglect by a nursing home.

Next, contact the law firm of Gould Injury Law serving Stamford, CT, promptly. Our attorneys understand nursing home abuse and negligence laws. We will discuss with you the rights of your loved one and how to receive compensation for injuries and losses as fast as possible. Nursing homes in Stamford, Connecticut, that fail to maintain your loved one’s health and hygiene, address his or her emotional, physical, and social needs, or ignore his or her calls for assistance must be held accountable.

Compensation in an elder abuse case is usually awarded in three areas: economic damages, non-economic damages, and punitive damages. The amounts provided will vary based on the specifics of your abuse or neglect case. For example, it may depend on the types of injuries your loved one experienced and whether personal property or finances were stolen or damaged.

These following areas of compensation can be recovered in your case.

Economic damages—These include stolen property losses as well as past and ongoing medical costs related to the neglect and abuse.

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

Non-economic damages—In Connecticut, the law understands that injuries are not only physical and monetary. Compensation can also be received for:

• Mental and emotional anguish and suffering
• Psychological distress resulting in sleeplessness, anxiety, and fear
• Depression and similar emotions caused by irreversible damage from the abuse and neglect

Punitive damages—These are monetary penalties intended to punish the nursing home for their terrible actions. The intent of these penalties also serves as a warning to other nursing home agencies and staff.

Contact a Gould Injury Law attorney serving Stamford, CT. We will analyze your case and assist you in receiving the full amount the law allows for the injuries, pain, and losses your loved one has experienced.