Nursing Home Abuse

Understanding the Signs

When one entrusts the care of their loved one to a nursing home, a level of care is expected and is required by law. Nursing home residents have rights, and when they have been violated by nursing home personnel, a claim for damages should be made at once, as well as reporting the incident to law enforcement. Unfortunately, there are certain individuals who have been found to abuse the elderly at nursing homes in a variety of cruel ways, such as beating, pinching, kicking, slapping and even sexual assault.

The helpless resident is usually unable to defend themselves and suffers in silence. In some cases, the resident may have been continually overmedicated in order to "keep them quiet". This is extremely dangerous to the health of the elderly, and is a criminal act. Drugs cannot be administered unless they are prescribed by a doctor who is caring for the individual. This practice has been found to be far too prevalent, and if your loved one has been the victim of abuse, it is crucial that you contact a Houston personal injury lawyer at once.

Can I pursue legal action?

There have been a large number of nursing homes that are springing up around the Houston area, as our aging population is growing in size. More and more individuals require the skilled nursing care due to physical or mental disabilities, and a nursing home is often where their families choose to send them so that they can get the care they need. When this trust is violated, and harm is done to the innocent victim, it is critical that you contact The Doan Law Firm, P.C. We are prepared to fight for the injured client and their families and to aggressively seek justice for these terrible criminal acts. Another form of abuse that has been discovered far too frequently is emotional abuse.

This is when the elderly resident is continually suppressed and treated in such a way that they become frightened, introverted and quiet. They may not be able to communicate to their relatives what is going on, as they are usually threatened with harm if they speak up. Some residents no longer have the ability to speak up, due to their condition, but you can be alert to this type of damage by carefully observing your loved one. If they flinch when you come near, show bruising, or appear to be groggy with drug intoxication whenever you see them, it is very possible that abuse is occurring. Our attorney at The Doan Law Firm, P.C. takes these cases personally, as victimizing the helpless is unacceptable and must be addressed legally, and at once.