Pigeon Forge Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
Nursing home abuse and neglect are very real, and very disturbing problems here in Pigeon Forge and across Tennessee. Most incidents are never reported, meaning that thousands of elderly and disabled people live with abuse and neglect on a daily level, with their abusers doing as they please. If you believe that your loved one is being abused or neglected, or you have experienced abuse or neglect yourself either currently or in the past, you need to speak with a Pigeon Forge nursing home abuse lawyer to put it to an end and to seek the compensation that is deserved.
What Constitutes Nursing Home Abuse?
There are four types of nursing home abuse, described below.
- Physical abuse is any unwanted and unnecessary touching or physical contact with the resident. It includes everything from pushing and grabbing, all the way to punching and kicking.
- Sexual abuse is any unwanted sexual conduct, including:
- Touching of the genitals or private areas;
- Rape;
- Making the resident touch the staff member;
- Staff member showing genitals to resident;
- Staff member using verbal sexual abuse.
- Financial abuse occurs when a nursing home employee steals from the resident, uses fraud, or coerces them into giving them money or property.
- Emotional abuse can be just as traumatizing as physical abuse. It includes yelling, belittling, treating the resident like a child or incompetent person, locking them in their room, forbidding them to make their own decisions, and intimidation.
Neglect is a Serious Issue Too
Neglect occurs when employees fail to take proper care of an elderly person, and includes things such as failing to provide food, medicine, or water; failing to help keep the elderly person and their bedding and clothing clean; and not taking proper care of the resident in any other way.
Tell Tale Signs of Abuse and Neglect
Some of the common signs of abuse and neglect include:
- Bruising;
- Unexplained broken bones;
- Injuries to both sides of the body;
- Loss in appetite;
- Sudden and unexplained weight loss or weight gain;
- Sudden and unexplained lack of desire to socialize with others or see family members; and
- Strange and unexplained bank statements.
As Population Ages, Number of Nursing Homes Increase, as does Abuse and Neglect
As of 2014, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that the United States had 15,600 nursing homes. There are tens of thousands more hospice care centers, assisted living homes, and adult day care facilities as well. The age of the average American is continuing to increase with each passing year, and a large percent of older Americans will live in a nursing home or assisted living facility at some point in their lives. These facilities must be held to the highest of standards, and must also be held accountable when their employees or management fail their residents by neglecting or abusing them.
Contact a Pigeon Forge Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer at Once
Nursing home residents and assisted living residents all have a right to make their own decisions regarding their health care, daily activities, and much more. By denying this right, employees infringe upon their rights. The compassionate lawyers of Fox, Farley, Willis & Burnette assist the abused and neglected victims of nursing home trauma to collect considerable financial damages, including medical costs, pain and suffering, disfigurement, disability, and more.
