Frankfort Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
Older Americans are one of the most vulnerable populations in our country. When they can no longer take care of themselves, and their families cannot provide them with the care they need either, many move into nursing homes to give them around the clock care. While many facilities and their staff members treat their residents properly, not all can say the same.
If your loved one has experienced nursing home abuse in their facility, they could use the help of a Frankfort nursing home abuse lawyer for legal representation. They deserve to receive the best care in their facility and maintain their dignity late in life. At the Law Office of Todd W. Burris, we are dedicated to representing vulnerable populations like the elderly and ensure their rights are protected.
Signs of Nursing Home Abuse
After admitting your loved one into a nursing home, you might start noticing that something isn’t right. When you’re vigilant about their care, you might be more able to tell when they are experiencing abuse or neglect from staff. If you’re not able to visit often, though, or your communication with your loved one is limited, it could be harder to spot the signs of abuse.
By knowing the signs that a nursing home resident is being abused physically, emotionally, financially, or in other ways, you will be better able to tell if your loved one is in danger. Physical abuse is usually the easiest to spot. Here are the signs that your loved one is being physically abused by nursing home staff or other residents:
- Bruises
- Cuts and lacerations
- Scrapes
- Poor hygiene
- Soiled clothes or linens
- Broken bones
- Restraint marks
Another form of abuse that nursing home residents could endure is emotional abuse. Whether a resident is being neglected, verbally mistreated, or threatened, some of the signs are:
- Never being left alone by a staff member while visiting
- Withdrawn
- Unexplained weight loss
- Drastic mood changes
- Depressed
- Bed sores
- Poor hygiene
- Isolated
Nursing home residents can be financially abused by staff members if their bank accounts are not closely monitored. Here are some signs that your loved one is being financially abused in their facility:
- Missing checks
- Unexplained bank withdrawals
- Changes in bank account administrator
- Missing jewelry and expensive belongings
Unfortunately, residents might also experience sexual abuse in their facilities. Some signs are:
- Unexplained STDs
- Bruised genitals
- Unexplained infections
- Torn clothes and underwear
- Withdrawn and emotional changes
Now that you know how to spot nursing home abuse, let’s take a look at how to report the abuse in Kentucky with the help of a Frankfort nursing home abuse lawyer.
How To Report Nursing Home Abuse in Kentucky
Nobody should have to endure abuse, but especially your older loved one who is in a facility that is supposed to be caring for them. It can be hard to spot the signs, but if you suspect your loved one or a resident is being abused, then you must report it. According to the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, there isn’t a uniform reporting system in place, but there is a way to report abuse in Kentucky.
Your first step in reporting should be going to the facility’s administration to report the suspected abuse. The facility should work with you to correct the problem and help your loved one. Whether they work to correct the problem or not, you’ll still need to report the suspected abuse to the state since it’s a mandatory reporting state.
Depending on the level of the abuse, you should remove your loved one from the facility as soon as possible. If your loved one is in immediate danger, then you should call the authorities so that they can intervene and keep your loved one form harm. After calling them, you should call a Frankfort nursing home abuse attorney so that you have legal representation moving forward.
We Will Protect Your Loved One’s Rights
Watching your loved one be abused or neglected can be hard, but there’s something you can do to get them justice. By hiring a Frankfort nursing home abuse lawyer from the Law Office of Todd W. Burris, you can rest assured that we will fight to get your loved one the justice they deserve for enduring mistreatment in their facility.
When you hire one of our Frankfort personal injury lawyers to represent you, we’ll fully investigate your claims and determine what happened, who was responsible, and how much you deserve in compensation for your suffering. Our attorneys won’t rest until we find out what happened and how to make the strongest case possible for you.
Don’t wait to report suspected abuse or hire a lawyer because waiting too long could jeopardize your claim. Waiting too long could also put your loved one’s life at risk. Reach out to our office today so that we can get started helping you right away.
