Norfolk, VA Nursing Home Negligence and Abuse Lawyer

If we could, many of us would keep our elderly family members home with us for the rest of their lives, but that is not always possible, especially when they need medical care. Instead, we trust the care of our loved ones to local nursing homes like Harbor’s Edge, Commonwealth Senior Living at the Ballentine, and Commonwealth Senior Living at Leigh Hall.

Since they are subject to federal and state guidelines and charge handsomely for the care they offer, we all expect nursing homes to provide a safe and attentive environment. Unfortunately, sometimes we find that patients are instead suffering from abuse and neglect.

If you are concerned about the quality of care provided in your loved one’s care facility, it may be wise to consult a Norfolk nursing home negligence and abuse lawyer from Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers as soon as possible. Our compassionate personal injury attorneys have experience handling nursing home mistreatment cases and could investigate and explain your options for correcting your situation and possibly obtaining compensation.

Signs of Possible Nursing Home Abuse

Residents in nursing homes cannot always articulate the problems they may be experiencing in their daily lives, so it sometimes takes careful observation—as well as input from a Norfolk attorney—to detect signs of abuse or neglect. While you may think of abuse as only physical in nature, a nursing home patient may also be subject to emotional trauma, financial exploitation, sexual abuse, or neglect of basic needs.

Some factors to watch for include:

• Signs of dehydration
• More frequent bruising
• Unexplained broken bones or other serious injuries
• Infections
• Bedsores
• Changes in weight or signs of malnutrition

It is important to monitor contextual changes in a patient’s condition or behavior. If a nursing home resident has been subject to frequent bruising in the past, signs of continued bruising may pose no cause for concern. However, if a patient shows a change in bruising patterns or suddenly begins to show signs of fear, anxiety or depression, it may be time to investigate the situation and find the reason for the change.

In addition, it is wise to check if nursing home staff will allow a patient to visit with family members without the presence of a staff member. If not, this should also provide cause for concern unless there is a clear medical reason for the continual presence of a staff member.

Damages That May Be Available in a Nursing Home Abuse Case

When a nursing home patient suffers from neglect or abuse and one or more responsible parties are liable for causing harm to them, that resident may be entitled to monetary compensation. No amount of money can make up for physical and emotional injuries, but the goal of the civil law system is to try to right wrongs as much as possible by converting real-world harm to monetary damages.

Patients suffering injuries—or their families filing on their behalf—may receive compensation for economic losses such as additional medical bills or medical equipment, as well as therapy needed because of abuse or neglect. Nursing home residents may also receive compensation for non-economic losses they have endured that are damaging but hard to quantify financially. These types of damage awards would include compensation for pain and suffering, emotional anguish, and loss of enjoyment of life.

An experienced lawyer in Norfolk can help determine a reasonable amount of compensation for nursing home abuse or negligence based on amounts awarded in previous cases.

Let a Norfolk Nursing Home Abuse Attorney Fight for Your Family

When you suspect nursing home abuse or neglect, time is of the essence. A neglected medical problem or dangerous situation could cause rapid deterioration in a patient’s condition, so it is wise to begin the investigation and documentation of any causes for concern as soon as possible.

A dedicated Norfolk nursing home negligence and abuse lawyer could provide advice and assistance right from the start. With our experience in holding negligent care facilities responsible for their carelessness, we could help you learn your options for taking action after you have uncovered evidence of neglect or abuse. For more information about how to handle abusive situations, contact Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers today.