Nursing Home Abuse

According to the most recent information released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and federal program The Administration for Community Living, people over the age of 65 make up 49.2 million people, equivalent to 15% of our population. Due to their age, many of these people require assisted living care, either at a nursing home or a specific care facility for the elderly. Tragically, a large number of these most vulnerable individuals are being subtly abused, and no one is advocating for them.

Here at West Michigan Injury Lawyers, PLC, we aim to change this problem. When you get in touch with our nursing home abuse lawyers in Muskegon, you can count on aggressive support, as well as a compassionate ear to truly listen and take action to get justice for the harm that has been done to your loved one.

What Is Nursing Home Negligence?

One of the saddest but incessant situations of nursing home abuse arises from negligence. This could be because the caregiver or nurse simply forgot to care for the senior, a common example of neglect. However, purposeful physical, emotional, and mental abuse is another shockingly common occurrence. No matter the context, it is crucial to halt elderly abuse in any of its forms.

Some common signs that an elderly patient has been neglected or abused include:

• Malnutrition or dehydration from improper or missing meals
• Medication that has been improperly administered or even over-applied
• Bedsores from being trapped in one position without exercise
• Theft of money and/or personal property
• Lack of supervision (allowing residents to wander away from the nursing home premises)
• Excessive injuries or other signs of physical abuse that cannot be explained by normal occurrences
• Improperly trained or an insufficient number of staff members
• Over-sedation or under-sedation
• Falls and fractures
• Extreme weight loss or weight gain
• Septic shock from unsanitary conditions
• Unexpected or wrongful death

Nursing Home Resident Rights

A nursing home or elder care facility has the duty of caring for the most vulnerable, elderly members of our communities. If these facilities have failed in this regard, denying patients the basic needs of life on account of negligence and malpractice, or even through purposeful abuse, it is time to take action. No matter their age, all patients have human rights, which entitles them to recompense for injustices suffered. Filing a claim for inadequate care is important to seek justice for senior patients who often cannot do so on their own.

Filing a Nursing Home Lawsuit

Anyone who has been a victim of abuse, along with their families, should take the action of suing for legal damages from abusive nursing homes. Some examples of compensation you could receive could include payment for medical bills, mental and emotional therapy, physical rehabilitation, and caregiving costs. At West Michigan Injury Lawyers, PLC, we desire to fight for true justice to be served to you for all your pain and suffering at the hands of those who are supposed to care for your loved one.