Suspect nursing home abuse and neglect? Trust your instincts — and seek professional advice
It can be overwhelming to suspect that your loved one may be a victim of nursing home abuse or neglect. Surveys have found that more than 4 in 10 seniors have experienced abuse while staying at a nursing home, assisted living facility, or skilled nursing care facility. While any type of abuse is wrong, abuse aimed at those too weak and vulnerable to advocate for themselves is particularly reprehensible.
It is hard to know where to turn or what course of action to take. Waiting can only prolong your family members’ suffering. Minor injuries or subtle signs of neglect that are left untreated can spiral into a life-threatening situation. Quick action is necessary.
The experienced nursing home abuse attorneys at Robert Peirce & Associates are dedicated to helping injury victims and their families. After determining whether you have a viable claim that merits an investigation, Robert Peirce & Associates will begin the process of gathering relevant medical records and retaining appropriate experts to determine if there was negligence on the part of the nursing home.
Scott Simon has been working in the Healthcare Liability Department at Robert Peirce for 12 years. “When clients come to us, they are desperate for help and answers,” said Scott. “Our healthcare liability team takes each case personally and we work diligently in an effort to get justice for the unacceptable treatment our clients have endured.”
Nursing home abuse involves the negligent treatment of an elderly resident that includes physical and sometimes even sexual abuse. Unfortunately, nursing home neglect is not always easy to spot. Neglect can be a result of understaffing or poor facility maintenance. It can also occur by staff negligently ignoring residents, depriving them of essentials like food, water or medicine.
Some of the actions that constitute nursing home abuse or negligence are as follows:
• Falls and related injuries
• Bedsores (pressure ulcers)
• Sepsis or other infections
• Malnutrition and dehydration
• Medication errors
• Lack of personal hygiene care
• Physical abuse
• Sexual abuse
• Lack of supervision
If you have noticed any of these signs of abuse or neglect, even if you don’t know for sure, talking to a lawyer is taking a step to protect your loved one, and possibly many others from future harm.
“The best advice we can give to someone is to trust your instincts. If you see something that does not seem right, you need to stay alert and most importantly, seek professional advice,” said Scott. “What really sets us apart as a firm is that we have passionate attorneys that truly care about the rights of our elderly population. In addition, we have two highly qualified, skilled full-time nurses on staff that work side by side with our lawyers reviewing the cases from a medical perspective. We have experience in nursing home abuse cases so we know where to start because we know what to look for.”
For over 40 years, Robert Peirce & Associates has been providing supportive and compassionate legal representation for victims of nursing home abuse and neglect. There is a common misconception that the costs associated with securing an attorney to handle your case will be exorbitant, however there are no fees or costs recovered unless the attorneys at Robert Peirce & Associates are successful. In other words, you will never pay anything unless there is a successful outcome. Let the dedicated attorneys of Robert Peirce & Associates guide you through this process so that you can achieve the justice you and your loved one deserve.
To make a no-obligation appointment, contact the healthcare liability team at Robert Peirce & Associates at 412-281-7229 or visit www.peircelaw.com.
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