Long Island Nursing Home Negligence Lawyer
Whether they are ill, disabled or elderly, when we place our most vulnerable and needy family members in the care of a nursing home, we expect they will get appropriate medical care and attention to help them live a fulfilling life with dignity. Not all nursing homes are run with the same degree of care and skill, however, and factors like low staffing ratios and high turnover make nursing home residents susceptible to unconscionable neglect and abuse. Don’t let this happen to your loved one. Long Island nursing home negligence lawyer John Giuffré holds those individuals and nursing homes accountable for nursing home abuse and neglect by obtaining compensation for victimized residents who are harmed and by helping to ensure they get the appropriate level of care they need and deserve. Call Giuffré Law Offices if you or a loved one has been the victim of nursing home negligence in Nassau County, Long Island or New York City.
Nursing home negligence is a growing problem
According to the National Council on Elder Abuse, nursing home negligence is on the rise in America. More people are aging and entering nursing homes, which are becoming more crowded with less staff working in rundown facilities under poor working conditions. Nursing home staff may be underpaid, overworked and stressed. They might not attend to residents’ needs out of lack of capacity and neglect, or they may actually take out their frustrations by treating residents too roughly. Residents may be scared or embarrassed to speak out, allowing staff workers to take advantage of them.
There are hundreds of nursing homes in New York City and Long Island, with a quarter or more rated below average or much below average by Medicare based on health inspections, staffing and quality of care measures. Neglect and abuse can occur even in a well-rated facility, whether it’s an isolated incident or ongoing problem. We can help recover compensation for any of the following injuries:
- Malnutrition and dehydration
- Bedsores
- Physical abuse
- Verbal, psychological or emotional abuse
- Improper use of restraints
- Isolation
- Improper medical care
- Not responding to calls for assistance
- Not helping residents with toileting or hygiene
- Overmedication/misuse of antipsychotic drugs
- Preventable falls from bed or in the hallway
Signs and symptoms of nursing home negligence to watch out for
Unexplained cuts, bruises or broken bones – A resident may be physically abused or the nuursing home might claim unpreventable fall.
Bruises or welts on both sides of the body, such as on the arms, legs, wrists or ankles – Residents may be put into restraints or physically restrained or grabbed with too much force. Physical restraints are only allowed when authorized by a doctor for a specific purpose and limited time. They are not to be used for punishment, discipline or the convenience of staff. This rule applies to chemical restraints as well, where residents are needlessly sedated. You can demand to see the order authorizing restraints.
Bedsores – Also known as pressure sores or pressure ulcers, bedsores can appear on the buttocks, back, or back of legs or arms. Bedsores occur when a resident is in the same position for a prolonged period, whether in a bed, chair or wheelchair. Immobile patients need to be on a plan where they are moved or turned regularly, such as every four hours, to prevent bedsores. Such residents should be routinely inspected for bedsores and treated accordingly. Left untreated, bedsores can cause severe or deadly infections.
Resident is fearful or depressed – If your loved one shows unusual anxiety or seems afraid to talk with you, they might be subjected to physical abuse, including threats of retaliation if they speak out.
Unexplained weight loss, confusion or disorientation – These signs are symptoms of malnutrition or dehydration, meaning the resident is either being neglected or purposely derpived of food and water as a vindictive form of punishment. These signs can also be symptoms of dementia or age-related conditions. A medical diagnosis can help reveal whether there is an underlying medical cause that needs to be treated or whether abuse or neglect is occurring.
Call Giuffré Law Offices to Fight Nursing Home Negligence in Brooklyn, Queens or Long Island
If you or a loved one has been or is being mistreated in a nursing home in Nassau County, Long Island or New York City, call Giuffré Law offices at 516-802-9912 for a no-cost, confidential consultation. We’ll come to you, so you don’t have to worry about traveling to our offices if mobility is an issue for you or your loved one. We’ll work to see that you or your loved one gets the necessary care and compensation for any harm inflicted.
