Washington Nursing Home and Elder Abuse Lawyers
A recent congressional report found that one of every three nursing homes in the country was cited for an abuse violation over a two-year period. According to the report, 10 percent of these violations were serious enough to actually harm the residents or placed the resident in immediate jeopardy of serious injury, even wrongful death.
Nursing home negligence is defined as the abuse, neglect, or mistreatment of an elderly resident in an assisted living facility. Nursing home (or elder) abuse takes on a variety of forms – including physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, neglect, negligent care, as well as financial exploitation.
Because nursing home or elder abuse is often committed by trusted authority figures, many victims are often afraid, unwilling, or unable or unable to report it. The National Center of Elder Abuse estimates that for every one case of elder abuse, neglect or exploitation reported to the authorities, five more incidents go unreported.
At Garcia, Artigliere, & Schadrack, we have handled many past nursing home abuse and elder abuse lawsuits. Serving the Seattle area as well as Washington clients statewide, each of our elder abuse and nursing home lawyers has the knowledge and experience necessary to helping you and your family hold negligent caregivers liable for their actions.
If you believe your loved one is at risk for nursing home or elder abuse, it is important that you recognize the warning signs and act quickly. Protect your loved one and their rights; call us at 1-800-281-8515 or schedule a free case review today.
Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect
Nursing home abuse may take on a variety of forms. It can include assault, battery, sexual assault, emotional abuse, financial exploitation, and unauthorized use of chemical restraints and drugs.
By law, nursing home neglect is defined as the negligent failure of any person having the care or custody of an elder or dependent adult to exercise that degree of care which a reasonable person would exercise in a like position. Neglect also comes in many forms. Nursing home neglect can include failure to assist in personal hygiene, failure to provide adequate food and clothing, failure to give medical care for physical and mental health needs, failure to protect from health and safety hazards, and failure to provide adequate nutrition.
If you are the victim of nursing home abuse or neglect, or if you suspect a loved one has been mistreated, please contact the Washington lawyers at Garcia, Artigliere, & Schadrack.
Warning Signs for Elder Neglect and Nursing Home Abuse
The likelihood is that far too many nursing home negligence situations go unreported. Family members and loved ones must keep a watchful eye for the warning signs of nursing home abuse and neglect.
Physical Abuse
- Open wounds, cuts, bruises, and welts
- Loss of weight
- Frequent unexplained injuries
- Inability of the caretaker to adequately explain conditions
- Sudden changes in the elder’s behavior
- Reports of abuse
Neglect
- Malnutrition
- Dehydration
- Pressure sores
- Bed sores
- Lack of personal cleanliness
- Unsanitary and unclean conditions
- Begging for food
- Need for medical or dental care
- Lice
- Open wounds
- Rashes
- Inadequate staff supervision
To discuss your claim with an experienced Washington nursing home and elder abuse lawyer, contact Garcia, Artigliere, & Schadrack today. Schedule a free consultation.
Reporting Nursing Home Abuse
If you suspect that you or a family member is the victim of nursing home abuse, it is important to immediately document and report the problem. Your report should include:
- The victim’s name, age, and address
- The name of the facility and the person (or people) responsible for the victim’s care
- The name of the person(s) who abused or neglected the victim
- The nature and extent of the victim’s injuries, or physical signs of abuse or neglect
- The time, date, and location of the incident.
This report should be dated and include a description of any previous incidents. A Washington nursing home abuse lawyer can help you make this report and file a claim on your behalf.
Make your report to:
- The facility’s administrator, director of nursing, and social worker
- The State Board of Nursing Home Administrator
- A protection and advocacy agency or adult protective services agency
- The local police or state law enforcement officials
Contact our Washington Nursing Home and Elder Abuse Lawyers
At Garcia, Artigliere, & Schadrack, we represent victims of elder abuse and nursing home negligence nationwide. Our team of trial-tested attorneys has achieved a record of success, including multi-million dollar jury verdicts in nursing home cases. Appalled by this deplorable for of medical malpractice, we stand up against nursing homes whose abuse and neglect cause injury to those they’re obligated to protect.
Garcia, Artigliere, & Schadrack has handled numerous nursing home negligence and elder abuse cases. Each attorney at our Seattle, Washington office is qualified to help you secure a fair malpractice settlement.
If you would like to discuss your potential nursing home abuse lawsuit, contact our Washington nursing home and elder abuse lawyers. With an exceptional track record of success, our medical malpractice attorneys have helped many area victims obtain fair compensation for their suffering. We can help you recover medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, diminished earning capacity, and pain and suffering. Schedule a consultation today.