Nursing homes are entrusted with a vital responsibility: providing care to our elderly loved ones. However, with little oversight and residents who may not have the capacity to speak up, nursing home abuse has become alarmingly common, leaving vulnerable residents at risk for physical and emotional harm. If you suspect that your loved one has suffered abuse in a California nursing home, trust the compassionate and dedicated legal team at MI ABOGADO ® to be your unwavering advocate. We are committed to holding all negligent parties accountable, ensuring that you and your loved one see justice and rightful compensation.
At MI ABOGADO ®, we understand the gravity of nursing home abuse cases. Our experienced team is committed to protecting the rights of elderly individuals, ensuring they receive the respect and level of care that they deserve. What sets our team apart is our unwavering commitment to demanding justice, accountability, consequences, and change within the nursing home industry. Our most vulnerable population should never suffer in silence, and our team is here to be their voice every step of the way. Our team is well-versed in the complexities of nursing home abuse cases and will approach each case with the utmost sensitivity.
MI ABOGADO ® takes nursing home abuse cases on a contingency fee basis. In short, we don’t get paid until we secure a just settlement for your loved one, addressing the full extent of the harm they have faced. We’ve proudly served over a quarter of a million clients, with a 96% success rate. MI ABOGADO ® is ready to start fighting for you and your loved one today.
What Constitutes Nursing Home Abuse in California?
Nursing home abuse can manifest in various ways, including physical abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, sexual abuse, abandonment, and failure to maintain a safe and healthy environment. According to the Department of Justice, at least one in 10 elderly adults will experience abuse in any given year. However, newer data indicates this number could be considerably higher, even one of every six nursing home residents, especially with how many elderly individuals suffer in silence.
- Physical Abuse: the intentional use of force that causes bodily harm or pain. This can include hitting or striking the resident, roughly handling the resident, the misuse of physical or pharmaceutical restraints, force-feeding, and not providing adequate medical care.
- Emotional Abuse: using verbal or non-verbal actions to cause psychological distress or fear. This can include verbal abuse in the form of insults, intimidation, demeaning remarks, threats, humiliation, and ridicule. This can also include isolation and manipulation.
- Neglect: when caregivers fail to provide necessary attention, assistance, or care. This includes the failure to provide basic needs, such as nutrition, hydration, or hygiene, as well as medical neglect which occurs when a caregiver ignores or delays necessary medical attention. Inadequate supervision is another form of neglect, which can leave residents in dangerous situations or harmful conditions.
- Financial Exploitation: the unauthorized use of an elderly person’s assets, funds, or property for personal gain. This includes forgery, theft, coercion, and fraud.
- Sexual Abuse: non-consensual sexual contact, exploitation, or sexual harassment, including forced sexual acts.
- Abandonment: when caregivers desert or intentionally leave a resident alone without providing adequate care.
- Health and Safety Violations: the failure to maintain a safe and healthy environment for residents, including providing unsafe living conditions or inadequate staffing.
Common Signs of Nursing Home Abuse
Many residents of nursing homes are reluctant to come forward due to a lack of capacity, shame, humiliation, fear, or a lack of understanding of what conditions rise to the standard of abuse. Therefore, individuals need to look out for these common signs of nursing home abuse in their loved ones:
- Unexplained injuries and bruises
- Repeated injuries or medical issues
- Untreated medical conditions
- Improper or irregular administration of medications
- Inadequate mobility assistance
- Emotional withdrawal
- Sudden behavioral changes
- Depression
- Fear or anxiety
- Loss of interest in activities
- Poor hygiene
- Unsafe living conditions
- Isolation
- Limited communication
- Malnutrition or dehydration
- Sleep disturbances
- Unexplained financial transactions
- Missing personal belongings
- Fear or anxiety around specific staff members
- High volume of staff turnover
- Failure to report incidents
- Unresponsive of uncommunicative staff
- Contradictory or evasive explanations from staff
Holding Responsible Parties Accountable
Nursing home abuse can occur due to negligence on the part of many parties. The parties that may be held liable for nursing home abuse include:
- Nursing home staff
- Caregivers
- Administrators
- Facility owners
- Third-party contractors
- Medical professionals
If your loved one has suffered abuse in a nursing home, your loved one may be entitled to compensation for:
- Medical expenses
- Rehabilitation costs
- The cost of necessary mental health treatment
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Nursing home payments
- Replacement of any stolen funds or property
- Relocation expenses
- Punitive damages in cases of gross negligence
How Los Angeles Personal Injury Law Firm MI ABOGADO ® Can Help You with Your Nursing Home Abuse Claim
MI ABOGADO ® understands the gravity and sensitivity of nursing home abuse cases, and the importance of demanding accountability and change so that other residents of these facilities do not have to suffer. The health and well-being of our clients are always the priority at MI ABOGADO ®. That’s why our first step in nursing home abuse cases is addressing the physical safety of the victim. If your loved one needs medical care, we will put our extensive network of trusted medical professionals to work, ensuring that your loved one is safe and properly cared for.
Once we have ensured that your loved one is in capable hands and is on the road to recovery, we will conduct a thorough investigation of the nursing home abuse. We will gather evidence and interview witnesses so we can determine which parties need to face consequences for their actions or inactions. From there, we will collaborate with you to build the strongest possible case for compensation, tailored to your loved one’s unique circumstances, needs, and goals.
Next, we will aggressively negotiate with the responsible parties, insurance companies, and legal representatives. Our goal is to demand accountability and to secure a settlement that addresses the totality of your loved one’s suffering. If we cannot reach a fair settlement through negotiations, we are prepared to bring your loved one’s case to court so you and your loved one can see justice, accountability, and the maximum possible compensation.
Contact Our Experienced Los Angeles Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Today
If you suspect that your loved one has suffered abuse in a California nursing home, do not hesitate to contact MI ABOGADO ®. We staunchly believe that nobody should face an additional financial burden when demanding justice and accountability for such unspeakable conduct. That’s why we take nursing home abuse cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning we take no upfront fees for our services. We don’t get paid unless we secure rightful compensation for your loved one. Your loved one deserves better. Let us be an advocate for you and your loved one in the pursuit of justice.
MI ABOGADO ® proudly serves clients across California from our office in Los Angeles. Contact us today for a consultation or second opinion on your nursing home abuse claim. As always, our consultations and second opinions are free, confidential, and no obligation! We are ready to guide you through the process of seeking accountability, justice, and just compensation. Our team stands with you and your loved one every step of the way.