Pennsylvania has more nursing home residents than the majority of U.S. states. If your loved one resides in a Bucks County long-term care facility, you trust that the staff has their best interests at heart.
However, neglect or abuse is sadly all too common. If you have reason to believe a parent or other family member has been the victim of nursing abuse or neglect, you may be able to pursue justice on their behalf by holding the responsible facility accountable.
To learn more about your legal options in these circumstances, review your case confidentially with a Bucks County nursing home abuse attorney at Stark & Stark. Our legal consultations are free, and we will only charge for our services if we win your case.
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Bucks County Nursing Home Abuse: What You Need to Know
According to the World Health Organization, one out of every six people over the age of 60 will experience some type of abuse every year. In Pennsylvania specifically, there were 8,408 substantiated cases of abuse against older adults between 2017 and 2018.
While this will hopefully never happen to your loved one, there are ways to seek justice if it does.
What Are Examples of Nursing Home Abuse?
Nursing home abuse and neglect is a fairly general term that applies to numerous types of misconduct. They include (but are not limited to) the following:
- Failing to sufficiently attend to the needs of residents: This includes not feeding them properly, neglecting to bathe or toilet them, or failing to administer medications as directed
- Financially taking advantage of nursing home residents
- Sexual abuse
- Striking or otherwise physically abusing residents
- Emotionally and/or verbally abusing residents
Nursing home abuse sometimes occurs because facilities are understaffed. It may also occur because a nursing home staff member is knowingly attempting to harm a resident. Regardless of the reason, nursing home neglect and abuse are always inexcusable. With the help of their family members, victims can take legal action to limit the chances that abuse will continue in the future.
Warning Signs of Nursing Home Abuse
It can sometimes be challenging to know if nursing home abuse is occurring since many victims will not voluntarily report it. This may be because they are ashamed or embarrassed. Some patients may also struggle with cognitive impairment that can make it harder for them to verbalize instances of abuse. Fear may also be a barrier to reporting mistreatment: Residents may fear their abusers will overhear their discussions and retaliate.
Often, to stop abuse or neglect from happening, family members must be aware of red flags that can indicate possible mistreatment. The following are common signs to be aware of:
- Bedsores
- Weight loss
- Malnutrition and/or dehydration
- Unexplained bruising or injuries
- Unsanitary conditions
- Behaving in an emotionally distant manner
- Evidence of anxiety around certain nursing home staff members
While it is important to not assume nursing home staff members are guilty of abuse or neglect without sufficient proof, it is important to report your concerns and ask questions if you suspect your loved one is not being cared for properly.
What To Do If You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse in Bucks County
If you have reason to believe abuse or neglect is occurring and your loved one’s safety is at risk, you should consider removing them from the environment. You should also report suspected abuse to the facility’s administrators, as well as to local law enforcement.
We advise you to review your case with one of our Bucks County nursing home abuse lawyers as well. With your assistance, your loved one may be able to recover compensation for their pain and suffering and similar losses. Litigation can also hold the facility accountable and ensure abuse does not occur again.
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How Our Bucks County Nursing Home Abuse Law Firm Can Help You
If you see signs that your parent or relative is not being properly cared for, it can be incredibly overwhelming. The nursing home abuse lawyers at Stark & Stark know how difficult this may be for your family. They will walk you through each step of the litigation process and fight to ensure the relevant parties are held accountable.
Specifically, our Bucks County lawyers can help with the following:
Investigating Alleged Abuse
Since nursing home abuse or neglect often occurs behind closed doors, you will likely need to thoroughly investigate the matter if you suspect abuse is happening. This can require leveraging resources that you might not have access to. Our Bucks County nursing home abuse attorneys can help you by interviewing potential witnesses, investigating a facility’s history and that of their staff, reviewing camera footage, and performing similar investigative tasks.
Handling the Litigation Process
Filing a nursing home abuse lawsuit can be a lengthy process that requires a lot of supporting documentation. While you focus on caring for your loved one, we will handle filing all the necessary paperwork and communicating with the nursing home facility and their insurers.
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Negotiating for a Fair Settlement
It is important to remember that insurance companies are businesses. Their main priority is to stay financially solvent. As such, some insurers may not offer a fair settlement right away when victims or their loved ones file claims.
A Bucks County nursing home abuse lawyer can represent your interests by negotiating for a fair settlement that reflects the full extent of the harm your loved one has suffered. Although no attorney can promise to recover a specific amount of compensation, our team can promise to negotiate aggressively for a fair settlement on your behalf.
Why Hire Stark & Stark?
Stark & Stark is one of the most established law firms in the Bucks County area. Our personal injury lawyers have provided legal services to clients for nearly a century, making our law firm one of the most experienced and trusted in Pennsylvania.
If you suspect your loved one is the victim of nursing home abuse or neglect, we encourage you to contact us for assistance. We offer free and confidential legal consultations.
