PHOENIX ASSISTED LIVING ABUSE ATTORNEYS
SIGNS OF NURSING HOME ABUSE
Nursing homes are supposed to be places where residents can live in peace and safety, attended by nurses and caregivers who are sympathetic and concerned about their well-being. But too often these days, nursing homes are beset with problems – such as residents who suffer physical and mental abuse.
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Nursing Home Abuse Statistics
Per a study by the Nursing Home Abuse Center, more than three million Americans live in nursing facilities. And a recent study of 2,000 nursing homes found that the abuse rate was 44 percent and the rate of neglect was a staggering 95 percent.
The numbers don’t lie, and they are eye-opening.
What Is Neglect?
Neglect is not merely the act of ignoring someone’s needs, it actually falls into several categories:
Emotional Neglect – Caregivers fail to provide basic services to nursing home residents such as basic conversation.
Medical Neglect – Caregivers fail to give residents their daily medication or fail to address the medical needs of a resident, such as heeding complaints about bedsores or infections.
Hygiene – Caregivers do not help residents with basic hygiene such as showering, oral hygiene, laundry and bathing.
Neglect can cause a number of problems among nursing home residents, including mental anguish, depression and even suicide.
What Is Abuse?
The fact that nearly half of all nursing home residents in the Nursing Home Abuse Center said that they suffered abuse is troubling.
The difference between neglect and abuse is that abuse is an intentional physical or mental act that is designed to demonstrate power over another person. Abuse can be physical, verbal or psychological, but in many cases it may be due to inadequate training provided to caregivers at many nursing homes throughout the country.
But it’s important to understand the most common types of abuse at nursing home facilities. Per the Caregiver Services website, these categories are:
- Physical – This type of abuse can include punches, hits, kicks as well as restraining residents against their will.
- Verbal – Designed to assert authority through actions such as yelling, verbal insults and public ridicule.
- Psychological – This form of abuse includes physically isolating a resident from other patients, ignoring a resident or convincing a resident that no one cares about or loves them.
Signs Of Nursing Home Abuse
Although some nursing home residents may not have the capability to tell family members or staff members about the abuse they suffer, there are some warning signs that loved ones can heed to determine whether or not abuse has taken place.
Some of the most common signs are:
- Emotional Withdrawal – If you notice that your loved one in a nursing home has become emotionally withdrawn, listless or non-communicative, this could be a sign that abuse of some kind is occurring.
- Physical Signs – In some cases, you may notice that your loved one has developed bedsores or is sporting bruises on their arms or legs. This could be strong evidence that they are being neglected and/or being physically abused.
- Unacceptable Cleanliness – Pay close attention to the level of cleanliness at the nursing home, because a nursing home that is dirty and unkempt is often one in which caregivers are not providing a level of care that is acceptable.
What makes these actions even worse is that they are perpetrated against people who can’t fight back or defend themselves in any reasonable way.
Many nursing home residents require assistance to perform the most basic tasks, which gives their caregivers inordinate power over their lives.
The tragedy is that, too often, the nurses and aides who are entrusted with the care and comfort of nursing home patients violate that trust because they understand the relative position of power they wield over those they supervise.
Fighting For Your Loved Ones
If you suspect that your loved one is suffering abuse at a nursing home, please contact the lawyers at Miller Kory Rowe LLP at (602) 648-4045. We have a full team of attorneys, investigators and support staff who are committed to obtaining justice and compensation on your behalf. Call us today to schedule a free consultation.
What to Expect When Working With Us
We understand that pursuing a claim can feel daunting. Our team will guide you through each step of the process.
1. Initial Consultation
We listen closely to your concerns, explain your rights, and make sure the resident’s immediate safety is addressed from the start. This consultation is free, and there’s no obligation to proceed.
2. Investigation Phase
If we take your case, we’ll gather all necessary medical records and consult with expert witnesses to build a strong foundation for your claim.
3. Claim Development
We’ll calculate the full extent of your damages and prepare comprehensive settlement demands or legal filings.
4. Negotiation or Litigation
We’ll pursue fair compensation through negotiation when possible, but we’re always prepared to take your case to trial if necessary.
Real Client Testimonials
Our dedication to achieving successful outcomes for our clients is reflected in the authentic stories they share in our testimonials.
Many of these families came to us after discovering neglect in a nursing home or care facility.
“Teri Rowe and the team at MKR are highly recommended. My family and I went to Teri under the worst of circumstances and she was always kind, comforting, and helpful. Our case was complicated, sad, confusing and frustrating. She managed everything wonderfully. Our family lawyer referred us to Teri because Teri has a reputation for being the best. She definitely lives up to her reputation.”
— Michael Stenoien
“My sisters and I couldn’t have made a better choice by choosing Miller Kory Rowe to represent us. From day one to the end, their empathy, their professionalism and their confidence in our case never wavered. We were given the faith and they kept it. Their approach was completely professional but their concern for our case was equally personal. They took into account every little detail. They valued for us, our family values and ensured justice was done. We now have complete closure that this lawsuit is behind us, we can move forward knowing that we got some measure of justice for the harm done to our mother. Thank you so much Liz, Gabe and Stephanie.”
— Sherrie Dudek
“From our initial consultation to our final settlement. Miller, Kory and Rowe was with us every step of the way. Gabe and team kept us abreast of any updates on the case in a timely fashion and were always, often within minutes of an email, to walk us through what was happening in our case or clarify any questions we may have.
MKR’s compassion and thoughtfulness was genuine and was able to ease our minds in what was a difficult time with the passing of our mom. Gabe’s experience with these cases was very evident in our interactions and we had the utmost confidence in his representation. I would highly recommend MKR if you are ever in need of an attorney.”
— Joseph Shown
At Miller Kory Rowe, we are not afraid to take cases to trial. We are Arizona litigators with deep experience handling serious injury and wrongful death claims for families across the state.
Every case is prepared with the courtroom in mind. That level of preparation strengthens our strategy, builds trust with our clients, and puts pressure on the defense. We work with respected experts, craft compelling exhibits, and uncover the details that help juries understand the truth.
Whether your case involves medical negligence, elder abuse, or another form of life-changing harm, our focus stays the same: clear answers and meaningful results.
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