Personal Injury Lawyers In Madison Protect Nursing Home Abuse Victims

Injury Lawyers In Madison Protect Nursing Home Abuse Victims

Personal Injury lawyers in Madison stand up for the rights of abused or neglected elders who live in nursing homes. If you have a loved one in the care of a nursing home, it is of critical importance that you watch carefully for signs of elder abuse or neglect, and if you see those signs, to act immediately to protect your elder.

What To Watch For

·         Emergency or Urgent Care Visits – Obviously, elderly patients are likely to have genuine health emergencies from time to time. But if your elder is having frequent urgent care visits and the explanations you are given for those visits are unsatisfactory, it is worth investigating further, as these visits could be the result of neglect or abuse.

·         Withdrawal Or Changed Behavior With Staff – If you notice that your elder stops speaking or seems wary when staff members are nearby, this could be a sign of abuse.

·         Overly Attentive Staff – If you notice that a particular staff member is remaining close by while you are visiting, find out why. If your elder has a history or seizures or violent outbursts, that vigilance may be warranted. If there is no good reason for that staff member to be quite so nearby, he or she may be trying to prevent your loved one from reporting abuse.

·         Over-Medication – Some patients legitimately require a level of medication that impairs their abilities to some degree. If your elder does not have a condition that requires such measures and you find them “drugged up,” when you visit, ask questions. If you are not satisfied with the reasons, ask the doctor to reduce or change the medication. If the problem continues, it is time to take further action.

·         Physical Condition – This is another area where it can be hard to tell the effects of old age and illness from abuse. Older people bruise more easily than young people, so there can be many legitimate reasons for bruising on your elder, but if it occurs frequently, or there are many bruises, you need to investigate. Bedsores are another common condition in nursing homes, but common does not equal acceptable. If your elder has bed sores, point them out to the staff immediately, and take further action if they continue to be an issue. Lack of hygiene can be another sign of neglect: finger- and toenail grooming, oral care, dirty hair, dirty clothes, and body odor can all be indicators of neglect.

·         Injury By Another Patient – if another patient injures your elder, the staff are not adequately supervising the patients. If the injury is serious, you may want to consult an attorney immediately. If the injury is not serious, you should still speak to the facility management and insist that they correct the situation.

Better Safe Than Sorry

Many cases of elder abuse continue unchecked, either because they go unnoticed, or because family members are afraid to say something, or do not know what to do to get help. If you have reason to believe that your loved one is being abused or neglected in a nursing home, contact Eisenberg Law Offices at 608-256-8356 for a free consultation. Our experienced attorneys will help you decide what to do next to protect the rights of your elder.