Sending a loved one to live in a retirement home can be a sad and stressful process. However, it is important to understand that enlisting a family member into a nursing home or long-term facility does not mean they hand over any rights. In fact, most states provide unique protections to people who live in these facilities.
Unfortunately, retirement homes do not always treat residents with the respect and care they deserve. If you believe your loved one is being harmed, neglected, or abused, it is crucial that you speak with law enforcement and seek a personal injury attorney.
Bringing attention to the suspected mistreatment at a nursing home or long-term care facility could provide justice for the victim and prevent future patients from experiencing the same situations. A Wausau nursing home abuse lawyer could investigate the abuse, collect evidence, and help hold the retirement center responsible for their behavior.
There are many different things that could lead to senior care center patients experiencing mistreatment. Understaffing and poor training are common reasons that residents suffer from abuse. For example, facilities across the country often triple or quadruple the number of patients assigned to a single staff member. With resources stretched so thin, it is not surprising that neglect occurs. Injuries that happen because of this lack of oversight are mostly unintentional. However, the victims’ loved ones could still hold the nursing home responsible in these situations.
There are many other different signs that a retirement home resident might be experiencing abuse. Common signals include:
Bedsores or pressure ulcers are injuries that happen when a specific area of skin experiences pressure for a long period. Neglecting a nursing home resident and leaving them stationary for too long is one of the nation’s leading causes of bedsores.
Dehydration and malnutrition are serious situations that deserve immediate attention. Signs of these conditions include sudden weight loss, a weak immune system, poor healing, and general confusion. If someone believes that their loved one is being malnourished in a senior care center, a legal representative could help.
When facilities do not quickly clean up spills or tripping hazards, a resident can slip or fall. Tripping could result in serious injuries that require immediate medical care. For example, a senior citizen might need to use a cane or wheelchair for the rest of their life after slipping in a poorly maintained retirement home.
All these kinds of neglect are serious and deserve attention. Thankfully, an experienced attorney in Wausau could help the family of an abused nursing home resident collect evidence of mistreatment and hold the facility accountable.
In most situations, a law called the Statue of Limitations determines how long a plaintiff has to file any kind of personal injury claim. When it comes to nursing home mistreatment, Wisconsin Legislature 893.555 says that most families need to submit their claim within three years of the abuse. A plaintiff’s countdown usually begins when their loved one gets hurt.
Some families might have more time to submit their claim. For instance, if a senior care center tries to cover up their abusive behavior, a family might be granted more time to put together a case. A skilled lawyer in Wausau could help a family determine how long they have to file their nursing home neglect claim.
Nursing homes should be a safe place for seniors to live and relax. Sadly, mistreatment and abuse happen regularly in retirement homes. If a family member lives in a nursing home and does not seem to be receiving the care they deserve, you should speak with a legal representative right away. A Wausau nursing home abuse lawyer can look into the mistreatment and help your loved one seek the justice they deserve. Call our office today to learn more about your options.
If you are recovering from an injury, you need to focus on regaining your health. You should not have to negotiate with stubborn insurance companies or compromise with a defendant.
A Wausau personal injury lawyer could lessen the stress and complications associated with collecting compensation, allowing you to recover fully. Call today to learn more about your options.
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