Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Houston, TX
Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Houston, TX
A nursing home abuse attorney in Houston, TX understands that one of the hardest decisions a family has to make is placing their elderly loved one in a nursing home. This decision often involves researching and visiting different facilities to ensure that their loved one will be taken care of and kept safe. Tragically, too many Texas families find out too late that the home they chose did anything but. In fact, according to national data, it is estimated that there are approximately five million victims of nursing home abuse every year.
What are the types of abuse that nursing home residents are victims of?
Too often, elderly victims are too afraid or ashamed to tell their families they are being abused. This is why it is critical for families to know what types of abuse many seniors suffer and what the signs of abuse are.
Some of the most common types of abuse that nursing home residents suffer at the hands of nursing home staff or other residents include:
- Not receiving food, personal hygiene needs, or any other acts of neglect
- Not receiving the medical care and/or medication they need
- Emotional abuse
- Pinching, hitting, slapping, pushing, or other physical abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Restraining or isolating the victim without an adequate reason
What are the signs that family members should be on the lookout for that could indicate their loved one is being abused?
When you visit your loved one, any one or more of these signs could indicate they are being victimized:
- Losing weight, bedsores, and messy appearance
- Showing anxiety or becoming agitated when certain people are around
- Unexplained bruises, broken bones, or other injuries
- Increasingly depressed or withdrawn
- Medical conditions that worsen without any explanation
- Infections, dehydration, which indicates neglect
- Rocking, thumb sucking, or other behaviors which mimic dementia
Although in many cases of elderly abuse it is a nursing home staff member or members who are committing the abuse, it is also becoming more commonplace for a nursing home resident to suffer abuse from another resident. When this happens, it is still the responsibility of the facility for failing to protect all residents.
What should families do if they suspect nursing home abuse or neglect?
If you suspect that there is abuse or neglect being inflicted on your elderly family member, it is crucial to contact the proper authorities, including the police and the elderly protection agency in your town or state. You also should report your concerns to the nursing home administration. If possible, alternative arrangements should be made for the victim’s care in order to keep them safe.
Contact Our Office today
A Houston, TX nursing home abuse lawyer from John K. Zaid & Associates can help you make all the necessary contacts and reports to ensure that your loved one stays safe. We can also help you file a personal injury claim against those responsible for the injuries and those who failed to protect your elderly family member. Call our office today to find out what legal recourse you may have.
