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North Carolina Nursing Home Negligence Lawyers

Infographic – Signs of Nusing Home AbuseWhen you turn to a licensed nursing home to care for your elderly family member, you expect your loved one to receive a high standard of care. Deciding on a nursing home is never easy, and families do everything they can to find an environment that feels safe. Despite these efforts, many residents, sadly. become the victims of nursing home abuse or neglect.

Approximately two million cases of elder abuse are reported every year in the U.S. and many cases involve adult care homes and nursing facilities. It is estimated that more elder abuse cases go unreported each year. Nursing home residents may suffer abuse from a caregiver, staff member, or even a fellow resident. The abuse may be physical, sexual, emotional, or financial, or it may take the form of neglect, which is when a resident is harmed by substandard or improper care.

An experienced North Carolina nursing home abuse lawyer with DeMayo Law Offices can help families secure compensation for recovery and help reduce incident rates in North Carolina.

At DeMayo Law Offices, our North Carolina injury lawyers are prepared to handle the unique challenges of an elder abuse case, which includes aiding family members through the litigation process.

If your loved one has suffered maltreatment or you have questions about nursing home abuse, call (877) 333-1000 today or contact us online for a FREE consultation.

Important Information for Family & Friends

There are two distinct types of care facilities protected under state statute: adult care homes (also called assisted living facilities) and nursing facilities.

Friends and family must be vigilant in detecting signs of abuse, neglect, and exploitation, as many victims may not possess the ability to speak out against their abuser.

Elder abuse, again, can be physical, sexual, emotional, financial, or may take the form of neglect. Common signs of elder abuse include:

  • Sprains or broken bones
  • Burns or bruises mysteriously appearing
  • Repetitive injuries
  • Torn or bloody clothing
  • Bruising around the genital area
  • Sudden changes in behavior
  • Onset of depression or confusion
  • Changes in legal documents or bank statements
  • Unexplained loss of weight
  • Loss of appetite
  • Appearance of bedsores
  • Skin rashes, messy clothes, or dirty hair

If you notice any of these signs, you should immediately report them to the appropriate parties. Furthermore, North Carolina law requires reporting when ANYONE suspects an older or disabled adult is being abused, neglected or exploited. The reporter’s name is kept confidential and they’re protected from civil and criminal liability if they reported in good faith.

If you or your loved one pursues legal action, records and documentation of losses will be critical to the case. Keep important documents, take pictures, and track any monetary expenses related to the injury or suffering.

How Likely Is it that Nursing Home Abuse Can Occur?

According to the Nursing Home Abuse Center, it is alarmingly likely that an elderly person could suffer from nursing home abuse. A survey conducted by the World Health Organization in 2017 found that more than 60 percent of nursing home staff said they had abused residents in some way. Last year, the Office of Inspector General released a report showing that one in five emergency room visits from nursing homes were related to abuse in some way.

If You Were Suffering From Nursing Home Abuse, Our Attorneys Can Help Contact Us

Signs of Nursing Home Abuse Negligence

Nursing home abuse and neglect can come in many different forms. While it is unfortunate that nursing home abuse and neglect occurs, it is important that you watch for signs and be aware of the treatment being provided. Nursing home abuse and neglect is not just limited to physical abuse. It can also include emotional abuse such as yelling at a resident or bullying them. Some of the more frequent signs of nursing home negligence and abuse include:

Weight Loss

This may be a sign of nursing home neglect because your loved one may not be receiving the necessary type or amount of food.

Inattentive Staff

If you notice that the staff is ignoring problems or requests, it can be a sign of nursing home neglect.

Poor Personal Hygiene

If, for example, baths aren't being provided on a regular basis, this can show that the nursing home has been neglecting care for its residents.

Unsanitary Facility

The nursing home facility must be clean and well maintained. Letting trash build up, having dirty restrooms, having a dirty kitchen area – all of these can be signs that the nursing home is guilty of negligence.

Bedsores

Bed-ridden people need to be moved so that prolonged pressure to skin does not cause bedsores. Bedsores are fairly common in nursing homes, but in some cases, they may be signs of nursing home negligence.

Bruises

If your loved one is suffering from unexplained or frequent bruising, it could be an indication that the nursing home staff is mistreating them. This would be considered physical abuse.

Falling

Proper nursing home care should help prevent residents from falling and getting injuries. If you see any nursing home residents falling or hear reports of a loved one who fell, it may be a sign of nursing home negligence.

Restraints

Restraints used in nursing homes can be physical, like placing a resident in a wheelchair in front of a wall, or chemical, with excessive drugging. Restraining residents is all too common and can be a sign of nursing home negligence.

Being Non-Communicative or Withdrawn

If your loved one seems distant and unresponsive, it may be a sign of emotional nursing home negligence. They may be getting yelled at by nursing home staff and have become afraid to speak up.

Strange Behavioral Changes

If your loved one adopts strange or unusual behaviors like biting or rocking in place, it can be a sign of emotional nursing home negligence.

Vague Explanations from Staff

If the nursing home staff only provide vague or uninformed reasons when you present your concerns regarding possible neglect on their part, they might be trying to cover it up.

Nursing Home Abuse infographic

Nursing home negligence is a very serious problem that should be stopped as soon as possible. If you notice any of these or other signs that could be a form of nursing home negligence, contact DeMayo Law Offices immediately. Your loved one’s health and life may be at stake.

Compensation for Nursing Home Negligence

Elder abuse or neglect can result in economic losses as well as noneconomic related suffering.

Compensation for nursing home abuse or neglect can include money for:

  • Medical expenses
  • Disability
  • Therapy/rehabilitation
  • Pain and suffering
  • Mental anguish
  • Wrongful death

When the DeMayo Law Offices take a case, we dedicate our time and resources to:

  • Examining the claim and obtaining evidence such as medical records, witness testimonies, resident files, photos of the injuries and living conditions
  • Speaking with staff to inform them of the situation and ensuring all parties involved cooperate in the investigation
  • Pursuing the maximum compensation your loved one deserves

Call (877) 333-1000 today or contact us online for a FREE consultation.

Elder Abuse in North Carolina

According to North Carolina’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, a division of the Department of Health and Human Services, 3,769 complaints were received in 2016 involving adult care homes and nursing facilities.

Unfortunately, elder care staff are often overworked or untrained employees that are ill-prepared to manage patients with diverse medical needs.

North Carolina’s senior population is on the rise. It’s estimated that by 2035, one in five residents will be ages 65 or older.

Since nursing home abuse and neglect has increased, a bill of rights has been established to protect the rights of nursing home residents and to ensure regulations are maintained correctly.

Frequently Asked Questions About Elder Abuse

Our elder abuse lawyers have experience working with different types of abuse cases and are frequently asked questions about elder abuse and how to detect it. Learn more about this growing issue in our country and what to do about it.

What constitutes nursing home negligence?

Although the exact definition may vary between states, nursing home negligence can generally be defined as the failure to provide any nursing home resident with the services they need for health and safety. For many nursing home residents, this can include shelter, food, drink, medical care, clothing, sanitary conditions, and other needed provisions.

How many elderly people experience some form of elder abuse?

According to the National Council on Aging (NCOA), around 10 percent of Americans age 60 and over have been abused in some way–some estimates say about 5 million elders experience abuse each year. Of those cases, only about 1 in 14 are actually reported.

What conditions contribute to elder abuse occurring?

Often, those who experience elder abuse are socially isolated in some way or are mentally impaired. In fact, almost half of patients diagnosed with dementia are abused in some way, according to the NCOA.

Both elderly men and women are abused, but two out of three elder abuse victims are women. If you are worried about your elderly loved one being abused in a nursing home, be sure to document any possible signs of abuse you see and keep in mind that abuse may be caused by either an employee or another resident.

Who should I report elder abuse to?

If you suspect elder abuse in any situation, contact the North Carolina Division of Facility Services immediately to file a complaint or call 9-1-1 in the case of an emergency. After that, you should reach out to a DeMayo Law Offices elder abuse attorney to review your concerns. A skilled attorney will be able to investigate your suspicions and advise you on steps you should take to keep your loved one safe.

The rest of my family never paid attention to my late mother's nursing home care. Do I have to tell them about my nursing home settlement or nursing home claim?

Each person entitled to any portion of the estate must be informed of a nursing home negligence claim if it is being filed. This does not mean, however, that all persons are entitled to a portion of the settlement.

What information will be helpful for my nursing home negligence claim?

If you are filing a nursing home negligence claim, it is a good idea to write down or document various pieces of information. This will only help your nursing home negligence claim, as well as be of great value to your DeMayo Law Offices nursing home negligence lawyer. Some of the items you should document include:

  • Your relationship to the nursing home resident
  • Time and date of the nursing home negligence incident(s)
  • Contact information for you and the nursing home resident
  • Names and contact information of nursing home staff
  • Names of nursing home staff who are involved in the nursing home abuse
  • List of resulting injuries
  • Medical records prior to and after the nursing home negligence
  • Reasons for resident needing the care of the nursing home

If you believe that you or a loved one has been the victim of nursing home negligence or abuse, contact DeMayo Law Offices to schedule your free initial consultation.

Has Your Loved One Suffered Nursing Home Abuse? Call Us For a Free Consultation.

Nursing home abuse is a serious problem that can lead to death in some cases. The Charlotte-based lawyers at the DeMayo Law Offices are dedicated to helping families who find themselves and their loved ones in this difficult situation.

Our experienced nursing home negligence lawyers work on a contingent-fee basis, which means you don’t pay us unless we win your case.

Call (877) 333-1000 today, or contact us online for a FREE consultation.