Nursing Home Abuse Attorney Los Angeles – Protect Your Rights to Compensation

If you believe that your elder relative is being abused in a Los Angeles nursing home, you are fully entitled to take legal action against those responsible. Our senior citizens deserve respect and fair treatment, just like any other segment of the population. Unfortunately, these individuals are often taken advantage of due to their deteriorating physical and mental health. Those who prey on the sick and the elderly deserve to be held accountable in a court of law, and you can pursue justice as soon as you become aware of this misconduct.

On the other hand, you may be living in a nursing home yourself, and you may be fully aware of your legal rights and freedoms. If you have been abused, manipulated, or harmed in any way, there is nothing stopping you from taking legal action against your caretakers.

In either case, the first step is always to get in touch with a personal injury attorney in Los Angeles who has experience with elder law. Our legal professionals can make sure that negligent parties are held accountable for their misconduct. We can also help you receive a settlement for your damages. This settlement can help you cover medical bills and other out-of-pocket expenses you may have incurred as a result of your abuse. In addition, you can claim damages related to non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, humiliation, PTSD, and other things of that nature.

Types of Elder Abuse Common in Los Angeles Nursing Homes

When many people think of elder abuse, they picture misconduct that is physical in nature. In reality, there are many other types of elder abuse that might occur at a nursing home. Here are a few examples of how an individual might be abused at a nursing home:

• Physical Abuse: This is perhaps the most obvious form of elder abuse, since it is often easy to see and experience. This type of abuse is intentional, and it leads to serious injuries in many cases. This abuse may lead to physical harm, severe pain, or even death.
• Sexual Abuse: Sexual abuse of an elder patient is unwanted sexual interaction of any kind. Unfortunately, individuals with dementia and Alzheimer’s are commonly abused in this way, since they do not understand what is going on. Therefore, they cannot legally consent.
• Psychological Abuse: Often tied in with emotional abuse, psychological abuse involves causing an elder patient to feel fear, mental pain, distress, anxiety, or any other serious mental issue.
• Neglect: Unfortunately, neglect is quite common in nursing homes. Often, elder patients require careful medical care and attention. When healthcare workers at these institutions are neglectful, elder patients can suffer greatly. Whenever these individuals allow an elder patient to experience preventable harm due to their own negligence, it is a form of abuse.
• Abandonment: Elder individuals may have no family members to care for them. In many cases, this encourages caretakers to simply abandon an elder individual at another healthcare facility, since they know that no one will complain. This is another important example of abuse.
• Financial Abuse: Financial abuse is perhaps one of the most despicable forms of elder abuse. This occurs when someone gain’s an elder patient’s trust, only to manipulate them and gain access to their resources.

How to Spot Elder Abuse in Los Angeles Nursing Homes

Elder abuse can be difficult to spot in some situations, and this is why it is important for relatives to keep an eye out for any potential signs that this might be occurring. Sometimes, these signs can be incredibly subtle. In other cases, it can be obvious that an elder patient is being abused at a nursing home. Here are some signs to watch for:

• Signs of Physical Abuse: Signs of physical abuse include broken bones, strange bruises, dislocated joints, sprains, sudden, unexplained hair loss, and tooth loss. Keep an eye out for the same injuries occurring again and again. You might also want to look for marks or cuts on the wrist or the ankles, as these injuries can indicate that the elder has been restrained. Restraints are illegal.
• Signs of Sexual Abuse: Signs of sexual abuse include new manifestations of STDs, pain or discomfort in the anus or genitals, and suicidal behavior. Remember, even those who appear to have a trusting relationship with an elder patient can be guilty of this kind of abuse.
• Signs of Psychological Elder Abuse: If an elder patient has been subjected to psychological abuse, they may appear to be isolated and withdrawn. They may also appear to be intimated when around healthcare workers at a nursing home. Additional signs include avoiding eye contact, low self-esteem, and mood swings.
• Signs of Neglect: Neglect can manifest in many different ways. A patient may appear to be unhygienic, which may suggest that they are not being adequately looked after. Bedsores are a particularly common sign of neglect.
• Signs of Financial Elder Abuse: If you believe that an elder has been subjected to financial abuse, look for signs of missing property, a sense of confusion about financial matters, and unexplained ATM withdrawals. Individuals who show an unusual interest in the finances of an elder should be watched carefully. 

Los Angeles Nursing Home Wrongful Death Claims

In some cases, nursing home abuse can lead to deaths. In this tragic situation, the family members of the deceased individual can file a lawsuit. This is known as a wrongful death claim, and it is brought forth on the deceased individual’s behalf by their family members. These types of claims have become especially notable in the modern era due to the widespread nursing home neglect during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Many nursing homes throughout California were accused of gross negligence that led to the infection and subsequent deaths of numerous elder patients. While many other states have given nursing homes “blanket immunity” from lawsuits related to COVID-19 deaths, California allows family members to sue for these acts of negligence. Numerous wrongful death lawsuits have already been filed in the Golden State, and you can file your own lawsuit if you believe that your loved one passed away due to the negligence of a nursing home during the pandemic.

Enlist the Help of a Qualified Los Angeles Nursing Home Abuse Attorney Today 

If you have been searching the Los Angeles area for a qualified, experienced personal injury attorney who can help you with your nursing home abuse lawsuit, look no further than Mary Alexander & Associates. We have considerable experience with these cases, and we have helped numerous victims of elder abuse in California. With our help, you can hold negligent individuals accountable for these unforgivable acts of misconduct. No matter what type of abuse you have suffered, you can take legal action and pursue justice. Book your consultation today.

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