Nursing Home NeglectCalifornia Nursing Home Neglect AttorneySadly, neglect of the elderly in nursing homes happens all too frequently in northern California. At the Law Offices of Lawrence M. Knapp, we help families cope with the neglect of their older loved ones in nursing homes. If you suspect that a family member is being neglected in a nursing home or assisted living facility contact an experienced and skilled California nursing home neglect attorney. We will aggressively represent you in court, helping you obtain compensation for your loved one’s injuries caused by neglect in a nursing home or other care facility. What is Nursing Home Neglect?Nursing home neglect is the failure by a nursing home to provide the basic care that the facility is required by state and local regulations to supply. Basic care means providing food, water, clothing, shelter, personal hygiene assistance, medicine, and insuring personal safety. Signs of Nursing Home NeglectTelltale signs of nursing home neglect include bedsores, pressure sores, decubitus ulcers, poor hygiene, and weight loss. If the facility is dirty and poorly maintained, the chances are good that the care provided to residents will also be poor. Unexplained falls can also be a sign of neglect and failure to supervise residents. Dehydration and malnutrition are frequent signs of neglect and failure to monitor food and liquid intake. Are there enough employees to care for the patients in the facility? How We HelpOur attorneys have helped families obtain justice for their loved ones who have been neglected in a nursing home. We have made sure that the offending facility has implemented new procedures, hired additional staff and addressed the problems that caused the harm. Typical recent cases include a settlement for $600,000 for a patient who had decubitus ulcers and subsequently died of sepsis--it was clear that the facility was not performing mandated skin checks that look for persistent red areas on the skin. We have also recovered $300,000 for a woman whose bed rail was left down by an attendant, despite a notation on the chart that she was unable to walk without assistance. When she got out of bed to use the bathroom, she fell and fractured her leg. Do Not Accept ExcusesThese and similar cases are all too common. Nursing homes try to excuse their abuse by citing the age of the victim or the victims cooperation or the inevitability of deteriorating health. Of course, such situations are the fault of the facility, and cannot be used as an explanation for bedsores, skin breakdown, broken hips, or poor hygiene. By suing to recover compensation for neglect of loved ones in nursing homes, family members are protecting not only their own family members, but also other people who may reside in the facility in the future. Serving notice that poor care will not be tolerated is what is needed to correct the growing incidence of nursing home neglect. To learn how you can take steps to improve the level of care in nursing homes, contact our nursing home negligence lawyer at the Law Offices of Lawrence M. Knapp. We can help. ●Free Initial Consultation● |
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