Charlotte Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

Millions of Americans trust nursing homes to provide daily care for their elderly loved ones. These facilities are required to follow strict health and safety standards, and every employee must abide by a strict code of ethics and provide safe and effective care for every resident they supervise. Unfortunately, many elders are subjected to mistreatment by the people trusted to care for them. Some elder abuse involves direct physical assaults and negligence resulting in bodily harm. Other elder abuse cases involve financial exploitation, emotional abuse, and terrorization from caregivers.

If you believe your elderly loved one has been subjected to any form of mistreatment in their nursing home, you need to speak with a Charlotte nursing home abuse lawyer as soon as possible. Your legal team can coordinate with local law enforcement to put a stop to the abuse and remove your loved one from a dangerous situation, and they will also assist you in compiling a lawsuit against the party responsible for your loved one’s mistreatment.

Protect Your Loved One’s Health And Dignity From Neglect

Residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities in North Carolina have the right to expect care consistent with safety and health regulations overseen by the state. Too often, though, residents suffer emotional distress and physical injuries due to lack of attention by staff.

If you have a loved one in a nursing home in North Carolina and suspect negligence or misconduct may have resulted in an injury or abuse, please step up and talk with one of our personal injury attorneys. We are an experienced team of professionals with a strong record of recovering monetary damages on the part of nursing home abuse victims.

You may be worried about suing your loved one’s care providers. But by doing so and pursuing damages on their behalf, you are notifying the authorities that regulations are not being followed and further injuries will result.

How Do You Know When a Nursing Home Resident Is Being Abused?

One of the most difficult aspects of nursing home abuse cases is that abuse can continue for a long period before the victim’s family discovers it. Caregivers who abuse their patients will often disguise their behaviors and intimidate their victims into silence. It’s also possible that cognitive decline and memory issues will make it difficult for a victim to recall the full breadth of their experiences. If you have an elderly loved one in a North Carolina nursing home, it’s vital to stay vigilant for signs of abuse and investigate anything suspicious you notice about your loved one’s behavior and accommodations.

Some common signs of possible nursing home negligence or abuse include:

• Bedsores and pressure ulcers. Bedridden nursing home patients must be repositioned at regular intervals to prevent pressure ulcers and bedsores from forming. If a resident is left in the same position for too long, they can quickly develop bedsores that can cause severe health issues. Left untreated, they may result in fatal infections.
• Broken bones from falls when left unsupervised. Nursing home caregivers must ensure attentive supervision over their residents. Many elderly nursing home patients lack full awareness and coordination, making them vulnerable to falls when left unsupervised.
• Dehydration and malnutrition from not following a dietary plan. Failure to ensure proper nutrition and hydration for nursing home patients is a clear example of neglect. If you have any concerns about your loved one’s diet, consult their care team and ask for clear explanations for any discrepancies you discover.
• Medication errors. Nursing home caregivers must be very careful in handling patients’ medications. They must not only ensure appropriate dosages at the proper times, but also ensure their patients do not experience adverse interactions with specific foods or combinations of medications.
• Injuries suffered during transportation – loading and unloading. Many nursing homes have specialized vehicles designed to accommodate seniors with mobility problems. Caregivers must assist residents when providing transportation and carefully manage loading and unloading of vehicles.
• Bruises on the body indicative of sexual or physical assault. Unfortunately, many nursing home residents are victims of sexual assault and physical abuse from their caregivers. If you notice any strange bruises or if your loved one reports such experiences, it is vital to notify the police and to contact a Charlotte nursing home abuse lawyer as soon as possible.
• Mood changes due to emotional abuse resulting from abusive or threatening language. If your loved one seems depressed, withdrawn, nervous, or otherwise disturbed during a visit, ask them about these changes to see if they will open up to you about their experiences. Many victims of nursing home abuse are scared to speak up for themselves due to threats from their abusers.
• Injuries suffered while wandering away from the site unsupervised. Nursing home staff can face civil liability if a resident sustains injuries from wandering. All nursing home staff members must carefully monitor their residents at all times and ensure they have appropriate supervision when spending time outside.

Nursing home abuse can take many forms, and some victims will suffer multiple forms of abuse at the hands of caregivers. It’s vital to stay alert and investigate any potential signs of abuse or neglect that you notice. Do not hesitate to ask your elderly loved one about their experiences at their nursing home and whether they feel safe. If you believe your loved one has been abused in any way, a Charlotte nursing home abuse lawyer is the best resource to consult if you want to ensure accountability for the responsible parties.

Can You Sue a Nursing Home for Injury in NC?

Nursing home abuse is a form of personal injury, and in some cases the party responsible for abuse or neglect will face criminal charges due to North Carolina’s laws against elder abuse. If your loved one sustained any form of injury at the hands of their caregivers, you likely have grounds for a civil action against them.

In the event your loved one was intentionally abused in any way, the perpetrator is likely to face criminal prosecution in addition to civil liability for damages they caused. However, liability may not solely fall on the caregiver. If the nursing home that hired them failed to conduct an appropriate background check, did not provide proper training, or failed to investigate prior claims of mistreatment, it’s possible to name the nursing home as a defendant in your claim as well.

Your Charlotte nursing home abuse attorney can help you calculate the damages you can seek on behalf of your loved one. If they sustained physical harm, you have the right to claim the cost of any medical treatment they require. You can also seek compensation for lost income if you were forced to take time away from work to handle the situation. North Carolina also allows personal injury victims to seek compensation for their pain and suffering.

Perhaps the most important aspect of your nursing home abuse claim is ensuring accountability for the defendant. If your loved one has been abused by a caregiver, it is very likely that the caregiver has abused other residents as well. Your civil claim could be one step toward preventing many other nursing home residents from suffering abuse in the future. You may need to participate as a witness in a criminal case against the abuser, depending on the scope of their actions.

How Can an Attorney Help?

It can be incredibly distressing to discover that your loved one has been abused or neglected by the people you trusted to care for them. If you have discovered nursing home abuse of any kind, it is essential to take swift action to remove your loved one from the dangerous situation and hold the responsible party accountable for their actions.

Your Charlotte nursing home abuse lawyer can assist you in gathering evidence, testimony from other residents of the nursing home who have had similar experiences, and expert witness input to assist you with your case. Depending on the exact details of your situation, it’s possible to file a claim against a single caregiver, multiple caregivers, and the nursing home as defendants.

The attorneys at Ayers, Whitlow & Dressler understand the emotional distress that can follow the discovery of the abuse your loved one has suffered in a North Carolina nursing home. It’s easy to feel lost when it comes to determining your best options for resolving the situation, and our goal is to provide guidance and reassurance as you weigh your options for legal recourse.

Contact Us Right Away

It is important to act quickly if you intend to take legal action in response to the abuse your loved one has suffered in a nursing home. The sooner you secure legal counsel, the sooner you can remove your loved one from their dangerous situation and start building your case. A successful nursing home abuse claim can spare your loved one from further harm and ensure accountability for the parties responsible for their mistreatment. Call our offices in Charlotte at 704-594-4317 or contact us by email to arrange a free consultation to discuss your loved one’s injuries.