What Does Nursing Home Abuse in San Jose Look Like?
If you have a senior loved one in San Jose, the thought of them being abused might be something you would rather not consider. These kinds of incidents remind us all that humans can be incredibly and inexplicably cruel to one another. But although it might not be something that is comfortable to think about, elder abuse is a reality for which you must prepare. If you simply brush off the possibility of your senior loved one being abused, you are simply not giving them the protection that they need.
Often, family members only realize how bad elder abuse can be when it is too late. By the time they realize what is happening, their senior has suffered serious harm. They may never fully recover from these incidents, and they may live with the trauma for the rest of their lives. If your senior has already suffered elder abuse, it may be too late to stop the harm from occurring. But it is not too late to take action.
Get in touch with a qualified, experienced nursing home abuse attorney in San Jose, and you can hold guilty parties accountable for the way your senior was treated. Not only that, but you can also recover a significant settlement for your damages. Financial compensation cannot turn back time and prevent the abuse from occurring, but it can provide you and your senior with a sense of closure and justice.
Of course, it is always best to get in touch with an attorney before the abuse becomes harmful. If you believe that abuse is beginning to take place, your nursing home abuse attorney can address the situation immediately. Your attorney can even help you understand what to look for, and this can help you spot potential signs of elder abuse in San Jose. So what exactly does elder abuse look like in San Jose?
The Different Kinds of Elder Abuse
Nursing home abuse can take many different forms. Once you know all the different types of elder abuse, it becomes easier to spot the signs. Here are the various forms of elder abuse that might take place in a nursing home:
- Physical Abuse: This is when seniors are physically beaten, restrained, or violated in similar ways. Seniors have the same rights as anyone else, even if they are acting impolitely towards staff or suffering from dementia and other cognitive impairments. When a nursing home staff member physically abuses a senior, they are breaking the law, regardless of their excuses.
- Sexual Abuse: Seniors may also be sexually abused while in nursing homes. They can be victimized by nursing home staff or other seniors. This type of abuse is obviously unacceptable, and nursing homes have a legal obligation to protect seniors against sexual abuse.
- Financial Abuse: This is perhaps one of the most crippling forms of abuse, as it can affect the entire family. Seniors are especially vulnerable to scams and frauds carried out by nursing home staff and administrators. Unfortunately, this may result in the loss of a senior’s entire estate, leaving nothing for family members to inherit.
- Verbal Abuse: Seniors can also suffer verbal abuse, which can be just as harmful and hurtful as physical abuse. Seniors deserve the right to live out their twilight years with dignity and respect.
- Psychological Abuse: Due to cognitive decline, seniors may also be especially vulnerable to psychological abuse. These individuals may be confused and anxious about their surroundings, and particularly cruel staff members can make this worse with sadistic tricks and humiliating situations.
- Neglect: Neglect is perhaps one of the most common forms of senior abuse. This is when nursing homes fail to provide seniors with basic needs, such as hygiene, nutrition, and opportunities for social interaction.
- Abandonment: Another form of abuse is abandonment. This is when nursing homes leave seniors unattended for long periods of time. This can result in serious medical complications, such as bedsores. This can be particularly common in understaffed nursing homes.
Enlist the Help of a Qualified Attorney Today
If you have been searching the San Jose area for a qualified, experienced nursing home abuse attorney, look no further than Mary Alexander & Associates. We are committed to helping families, and seniors protect their rights in the most efficient way possible. Those who abuse seniors are the lowest of the low, and these individuals deserve to be held accountable for preying on those who cannot defend themselves.
Regardless of what type of abuse your senior has suffered, we can help you take decisive legal action. In addition, we can help you understand the various laws and regulations that nursing homes must follow in California. This can help you understand what actually constitutes elder abuse. Whatever your priorities may be, the first step is to schedule a consultation and review your legal options. Reach out today.
