Top-Rated Law Firm Advocates For Victims Of Nursing Home Abuse in Erie, Pennsylvania
When you or a loved one moves into a nursing home or other age-related facility, you expect to be treated with dignity, respect, and proper care. Nursing homes have regulations that are designed to protect the rights of nursing home residents. And when those protections are violated and there is an instance of nursing home abuse, the victims and their families can file a personal injury claim to recover damages for the harm that was inflicted.
At Purchase, George & Murphey, P.C., our personal injury team fights on behalf of nursing home residents who have suffered emotional or physical abuse. Our experienced team is passionate about protecting the rights of those older Pennsylvania residents who are victimized in nursing home facilities, holding all at-fault parties accountable for their actions.
Recognizing Signs Of Nursing Home Elder Abuse
When you visit a loved one at a nursing home facility, and you suspect that something is off — perhaps the nursing home resident seems withdrawn, or the cleanliness of their environment seems subpar — it can be difficult to determine whether your loved one is receiving proper care.
The term “abuse” conjures up images of obvious physical mistreatment, such as bruises or broken limbs. But abuse can take shape in many different forms — including emotional mistreatment and taking advantage of someone’s assets — and it can be challenging to discern whether the behaviors you are witnessing are the result of nursing home negligence.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines elder abuse as an “intentional act, or failure to act, by a caregiver or another person in a relationship involving an expectation of trust that causes or creates a risk of harm to an older adult.” Oftentimes, elder abuse occurs in a nursing home or other treatment center.
The CDC lists several types of maltreatment that may occur among individuals age 60 and older, which include — but are not limited to — the following:
- neglect (malnourishment, failure to provide basic necessities)
- physical abuse (pushing, hitting, slapping, improper use of restraints)
- emotional abuse
- sexual abuse
- financial abuse (discrepancies in billing or assets, missing personal property)
- Abandonment (lack of proper medical treatment, unsanitary conditions)
Nursing home abuse can take several forms. If you are concerned that a loved one is a victim of nursing home abuse, contact a personal injury attorney who is experienced in handling these types of claims.
