Gatlinburg Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
Nursing homes are a place for elderly to receive medical care while also getting social, emotional, and mental engagement. While many caretakers are compassionate and many facilities are attentive to the quality of their services, some locations are fraught with abuse and neglect. If you or a loved one has suffered from abuse or neglect at a nursing home, it is appropriate for you to seek financial compensation. At Fox, Farley, Willis & Burnette, we have experienced Gatlinburg nursing home abuse lawyers who are well-versed in nursing home regulations. We know how to investigate and litigate claims so that you can focus on recovering.
Types of Elder Abuse
Every nursing home resident should be treated with dignity, but unfortunately there are several ways an elderly person can be mistreated, including:
- Physical Abuse – Any unexplainable injuries such as bruises, fractures, or cuts can be a sign of physical abuse in a nursing home. In addition, if a caretaker gives drugs or uses restraints without a medical order, it is also considered physical abuse.
- Emotional Abuse – Also known as psychological abuse, this occurs when an elderly person is threatened, humiliated, scolded, blamed, or intimidated. This is the hardest type of abuse to identify because there is a lack of evidence. Symptoms to look for include depression, lack of eye contact from the victim, fear or anxiety in the victim, or avoidance of social interactions altogether.
- Neglect – According to com 91 percent of nursing homes lack the appropriate number of staff to provide sufficient care for their residents. This makes neglect the most common form of elder abuse. Neglect can mean basic needs are not met, medical concerns are ignored, hygiene is ignored, or socially the resident is isolated.
- Financial Exploitation – According to the National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse, people over the age of 50 control over 70 percent of the nation’s wealth. This makes elderly residents at a nursing home prime targets for scams, fraud, and more. Caretakers may forge signatures, steal checks, or persuade a patient to make significant changes to their finances in order to benefit the caregiver.
- Sexual Abuse – This includes any sexual act where consent has not been given. Showing pornography to a resident or making them undress is also deemed sexual abuse. Women and elderly with disabilities are at a high risk of sexual abuse.
- Healthcare Fraud – Unethical doctors, nurses, or caregivers commit healthcare fraud in a variety of ways such as overcharging for medical care, prescribing medications inappropriately, not providing services that they charge for, and more.
Contact a Gatlinburg Elderly Abuse Lawyer Today
If you suspect your loved one is being abused in a nursing home, or you personally have been subjected to abuse from a caretaker, the first step is to find a new, safe location away from the perpetrators of the abuse or neglect. Then it is important to contact an experienced Gatlinburg lawyer who can help investigate your case and submit a claim for compensation. Contact our compassionate legal team at Fox, Farley, Willis & Burnette for a free initial consultation today.
