Compassionate Nursing Home Abuse Attorney in McKinney
Nursing home abuse is a serious and distressing issue that affects some of the most vulnerable people in our communities. For residents and families facing these difficult circumstances, Lucé Law, PC offers a comprehensive range of legal services in Texas to protect their rights. Our attorney team will pursue justice to end abuse and neglect in the home and secure fair compensation. To speak with a McKinney nursing home abuse attorney, request a free legal consultation today.
Elderly Abuse Lawyer in McKinney
There is a standard list of reasons that elderly residents in facilities suffer nursing home abuse and neglect.
- Nursing home workers are too often low-paid.
- Nursing home workers are often poorly trained and overworked.
- Nursing home owners try to cut corners by skimping on staff or training.
Sometimes the worst cases of nursing home neglect and abuse happen at facilities that, on the outside, seem clean, professional and well-run. Often, management is aware that a problem exists.
One of the most prevalent forms of nursing home abuse today is that of neglect. Nursing home neglect is frequently overlooked, and results in a decline in general health and sometimes the death of the elderly resident entrusted to the care of the nursing home facility. Neglect can occur anywhere and can take many forms. What makes neglect so insidious is that it can be overlooked or ignored for a long time, as the effects happen gradually and may be initially quite subtle. Upon repeated visits by a family to a nursing home, the signs of elder neglect can remain invisible.
Common Health Issues Caused by Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
Quite normally, the residents of nursing homes are at an elevated risk of several ailments. These ailments can occur more frequently or with greater consequences due to a lack of appropriate care. What follows is a listing of the most common ailments associated with nursing home care neglect.
Falls
The most frequent and potentially severe cause of personal injury in the elderly is a fall that results in a bone fracture. In a facility without proper observation, it’s possible that a resident could lie on the floor for hours, exacerbating any additional trauma that he or she may have experienced due to the fall.
Bed-Related Strangulation and Suffocation
According to the federal government, 20 to 30 deaths occur in nursing homes each year because of strangulation or suffocation associated with bed rails, or falling between a poorly sized mattress and the bed frame. The longer an elderly person is in bed, the more the chance of an injury or death due to strangulation increases. If a family member dies due to this negligence, you can hire a wrongful death attorney to hold the responsible party accountable.
Bedsores
A bedsore results from unrelieved pressure and can persist for hours or even days, indicating that appropriate attention is not being given to the resident. A bedsore can range in severity from mild to lethal. In its severe form, a bedsore can result in a wound that penetrates through muscle and, in extreme cases, into the bone.
Dehydration
Where dementia prevents an individual from responding to their normal bodily needs, dehydration can cause a number of illnesses or disease states, such as kidney failure, and it can be lethal. Dehydration can be avoided by maintaining a rigid schedule of hydration for residents and assuring that staff regularly assesses the dietary and hydration needs of the residents.
Malnutrition
Improper nutrition can result in weakness and fragile bones, resulting in falls and fractures. Malnutrition can compromise the immune system so much that the resident may not be able to survive an infection caused by a bedsore or other trauma. Every resident should be evaluated on a regular basis to make sure that all of their nutritional needs are met, and that if they are not, both a doctor and the resident’s family should be made aware so they may work together to formulate a solution.
How Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers Protect Your Loved Ones
Unfortunately, some elders in nursing homes do face abuse. If someone you love lives in a nursing home, you need to be prepared to face this situation.
More and more people today need nursing home care. Despite these homes’ extensive vetting processes and your own in-depth research into various facilities, abuse often happens when we least expect it. That’s why it’s crucial to have an experienced nursing home lawyer on your side. If your loved one has been either neglected or abused, the Lucé Law, PC team can help.
Nursing home patients deserve the utmost respect and attentive care, but unfortunately they do not always receive it. Occasionally, patients are neglected, given the wrong medications, abused, or left unsupervised. Sometimes the nursing home staff does not receive appropriate training. At other times, nursing home providers are simply more concerned with making a profit than with caring for other human beings.
Nursing home neglect is unacceptable. That’s why at Lucé Law, PC, we are committed to helping your loved ones achieve justice and receive compensation for any wrongdoing.
Common Questions About Nursing Home Abuse
How can an attorney prove nursing home abuse or neglect occurred?
Attorneys prove nursing home abuse or neglect by gathering evidence, such as medical records, photographs of safety issues, witness statements from other staff and residents, and inspection reports. This collection of evidence can demonstrate that abuse or neglect led to falls, illnesses and other conditions.
Is there a time limit for filing a nursing home abuse lawsuit in Texas?
The time limit for filing a nursing home abuse lawsuit in Texas is usually two years from the time you discovered the issue. Speaking with an attorney as soon as possible allows adequate time for collecting evidence and building a case.
Can I still file a lawsuit if the nursing home resident passes away as a result of the abuse?
Families can file a lawsuit if the nursing home resident passes away due to abuse or neglect at the facility. A nursing home abuse attorney will file a wrongful death lawsuit to obtain compensation for immediate family members.
Speak With a Nursing Home Injury Attorney in McKinney
Lucé Law, PC helps nursing home residents and families hold facilities accountable in cases of neglect and abuse. If you or a loved one have suffered injury or illness due to inadequate treatment, speak with our personal injury attorneys for advice. Call (972) 632-1300 or request a free legal consultation.
