Unfortunately, Louisiana ranks especially low among all other states in the overall quality of nursing home care statewide, which means the possibility that a nursing home resident here will be mistreated in some way is particularly high. Even worse, nursing home residents who experience neglect or abuse cannot always effectively advocate on their own behalf, so it may fall to you as a concerned family member to take action on their behalf.
Having help from a compassionate and capable Lafayette nursing home abuse lawyer can be essential to understanding and enforcing your rights in a situation like this. From initial investigations into alleged nursing home misconduct to the conclusion of a civil lawsuit or settlement demand over a resident’s injuries and losses, our compassionate injury attorneys at Tomeny | Best could be by and on your side throughout the entire legal process.
Common Symptoms of Nursing Home Neglect or Abuse
Even when a nursing home resident’s loved ones visit them often and pay close attention to their condition while present, it can be difficult to identify a pattern of ongoing neglect or abuse or even to notice any signs of mistreatment at all. Even overt physical abuse of nursing home residents does not always result in obvious physical injuries, and more subtle forms of mistreatment like emotional abuse, financial exploitation, sexual misconduct, and inadvertent neglect can likewise be challenging to spot.
People with family members living in nursing homes should be aware of common indicators that a vulnerable elderly person is being abused or neglected, such as:
- Any signs of unsanitary living conditions, like dirty bedsheets or dusty shelves
- Personal property disappearing or getting damaged without explanation
- Repeated small injuries like bruises and cuts
- Evasiveness from staff members when asked about major injuries like bone fractures that were supposedly accidental
- Sudden mood swings or personality changes from a resident, especially regression to childlike behaviors such as thumb-sucking
- Changes in mood when a resident is around a specific staff member or other resident
- Bedsores at any stage of development
A Lafayette nursing home abuse attorney could offer more specific guidance about whether legal action may be warranted in a particular situation.
Taking Action Against Nursing Home Mistreatment
There are various government agencies at the state level that can assist with filing a complaint against a nursing home for abusing or neglecting a resident, including the Governor’s Office of Elderly Affairs and the Long-Term Care Ombudsman. A nursing home misconduct lawyer in Lafayette can likewise assist with reporting suspected mistreatment and with removing a resident from a dangerous situation, potentially enlisting help from law enforcement if necessary.
Once an abused or neglected resident is safe from suffering further harm, they—or a family member acting on their behalf—can demand civil compensation for any economic and non-economic losses they suffered due to their injuries. Compensable damages could include all past and future medical expenses, physical and psychological suffering, lost enjoyment of life, and more.
Our Lafayette Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys Are Here to Help
Whether it stems from a single staff member or from widespread misconduct by facility owners and administrators, there is no excuse for any form of neglect or abuse occurring inside a nursing home. If someone you love has been harmed through this kind of mistreatment, you have limited time to help them take legal action over the losses they have unjustly sustained.
Guidance from a Lafayette nursing home abuse lawyer may make all the difference in how your case turns out. At Tomeny | Best, we have extensive experience handling cases like these, and we will not rest until we get justice for you and your family. To learn more about what we could do for you, give us a call and set up your free consultation.
