Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys in Mobile, AL

There is a crisis in nursing homes in Alabama and throughout the country. Aging demographics, worker shortages, industry consolidation, and other factors have created substandard conditions in many of these facilities. And with more than 10,000 Americans turning 65 years old each day, this situation is not likely to improve anytime soon.

Seniors who reside in nursing facilities are our parents and those closest to us. These are the people who raised us and provided us with the care, guidance, and support we needed to become who we are today. The least they should receive in return is a place to live where they can receive the comfort and care they need to enjoy a decent quality of life during their golden years.

Sadly, this is very often not the case. There are far too many instances of nursing home abuse and neglect in Alabama facilities, and these facilities are not doing nearly enough to put a stop to it. At Hedge Copeland, PC, we are outraged by the treatment that many of our honored elders receive in nursing homes today, and we are committed to helping our clients obtain justice for their aging loved ones.

We understand the heartache that many of our clients feel when they find out that a facility that they entrusted to care for their loved one has violated that trust. Our personal injury lawyers have several decades of combined experience representing Alabama residents in nursing home abuse cases, and we have in-depth knowledge of the complexities involved with these types of cases. We work closely with our clients, and we explore every potential legal avenue toward recovering maximum compensation on their behalf.

Types of Nursing Home Abuse in Alabama

Nursing home abuse and neglect can come in many forms, some of the most common signs and symptoms include:

Bedsores

Also commonly known as pressure ulcers, bedsores are often the result of sitting or lying in one position for too long a period of time. Eventually, the pressure of being in one place for too long restricts the flow of blood to the areas that are affected, causing sores to develop. If this type of situation continues, things can worsen, and more serious conditions can develop, such as sepsis and gangrene.

Falls and Fractures

Another common sign of nursing home abuse or neglect is a resident/patient that falls down and suffers a fracture as a result. As we get older, our bones become more fragile, and seniors are very susceptible to severe fractures after a fall. A fall can happen because of abusive behavior on the part of the staff, or it can happen because patients who are known to have difficulty moving around are left alone for too long.

Malnutrition and Dehydration

Nursing home residents frequently develop various types of nutritional deficiencies. Many seniors are on special diets, and a lot of them require extra fluids in order to keep from getting dehydrated. Sometimes, the staff is not trained properly, and they are not aware of the dietary restrictions that some of the patients have. At other times, they are understaffed and busy, and they either give patients the wrong meal, or they do not allow them enough time to finish it.

Medication Errors

Poor training and understaffing can also lead to numerous types of mistakes with medication. Patients can be given too much or too little medication, the wrong medication, an incompatible mixture of medications, or they may not be given enough food and drink with the medications they receive. Medication errors can often lead to life-threatening situations for nursing home residents.

Lack of Proper Medical Care

Since nursing home residents are in their later years, they often develop various medical conditions, some of which require prompt treatment. Again, lack of proper staffing and/or poorly trained staff often results in a patient receiving substandard medical care. Staff may fail to recognize obvious signs of a medical issue, or patients may be given incorrect or improper treatment plans.

Physical Abuse

Sometimes, the situation crosses the line from neglect (which is already unacceptable) to flat out abuse. Abuse occurs at approximately one out of every three nursing homes in the country, and much of the time, this abuse is physical. Examples of physical abuse include pushing, pulling, scratching, pinching, punching, and improperly constraining a patient.

Emotional/Psychological Abuse

Emotional or psychological abuse is another common way that nursing home residents are mistreated. Residents depend on their caregivers to provide for even their most basic needs, and this makes them particularly vulnerable to this type of abuse. Examples of emotional abuse include threats, humiliation, intimidation, insults, harassment, and isolation.

Sexual Abuse

As painful as it is to imagine, many of the elderly who live in nursing facilities are abused sexually either by staff or other residents. Sexual abuse is often perpetrated against patients who have Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia, because they are less likely to be believed and perpetrators think they can get away with it.

Damages that can be Recovered from Alabama Nursing Home Abuse Claims

When it is discovered that someone has suffered abuse in a nursing facility, it is very important to pursue full damages – not only to compensate victims, but also to ensure that those responsible (or those who have knowingly allowed this to happen) are held to account. Damages for nursing home abuse claims can be divided into three general categories:

• Economic Damages: These are direct monetary losses that the victim incurs, such as medical expenses, fees to hire specialists, and legal fees to litigate the case.

• Noneconomic Damages: These are losses that are real but intangible and more difficult to quantify. Physical pain and suffering and emotional distress would be examples of noneconomic losses.

• Punitive Damages: If the actions of those who perpetrated abuse were willful or malicious, punitive damages may be awarded not to compensate the victim, but to punish the wrongdoer and help discourage similarly egregious actions in the future.

Act Quickly If You See Any Red Flags

The longer you wait to report possible abuse or neglect, the longer your loved one is exposed to potentially harmful behavior. If you notice anything that makes you pause, document it immediately. If any other family members notice the same things, note that in your documentation. From there, you will want to go to the nursing home administrator to discuss your concerns. Do not let them explain away your concerns or try to make you feel like you are overreacting. You deserve to feel confident about your loved one’s care. This is also a good time to talk to a local nursing home abuse attorney. If it turns out your loved one is not the victim of abuse or neglect, you’ve lost nothing.

Speak with a Knowledgeable and Compassionate Alabama Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

If you suspect that nursing home abuse is occurring in an Alabama facility, report it to the proper authorities, then contact Hedge Copeland to discuss your legal rights and options. Call our office today at 251-432-8844 or message us through our online contact form to schedule a free consultation. You may also stop by our Mobile, AL office in person at your convenience.