San Diego, California, nursing home residents have rights, including the right to be free from abuse. Unfortunately, nursing home residents are at an increased risk of abuse because they may be far away from concerned loved ones and may suffer from cognitive or communication. These problems can make it difficult for them to express what is happening.
If you suspect your loved one is being abused, the San Diego nursing home abuse lawyers from Mission Personal Injury Lawyers can help. Call or text us today at (619) 777-5555 to learn more. Our law firm offers a free initial consultation to go over your case.
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How Mission Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help With Your Nursing Home Abuse Case in San Diego
Our elite legal team has received local and national recognition for our advocacy and results. Rosalio Munoz and David Munoz have been named to the San Diego Super Lawyer’s List, an honor that only about 5% of attorneys in a region have. San Diego Business Journal has also named our firm a Best of the Bar Law Firm in San Diego.
Our team has decades of combined legal experience representing injury victims. Our San Diego nursing home abuse lawyers can help you by:
- Investigating your claim and explaining your legal options
- Gathering evidence to support your case
- Contacting witnesses
- Communicating with insurance companies and other parties on your behalf
- Fighting to end violence against your loved one
Contact us today in San Diego, CA, to get started on seeking justice and financial accountability for your loved one.
Types of Nursing Home Abuse in San Diego, California
There are several different types of nursing home abuse, including:
- Physical abuse – Physical abuse is the use of physical force that can result in bodily harm. Physical abuse involves such violent acts as slapping, kicking, shoving, shaking, or striking a nursing home patient. It also includes the inappropriate use of medication and physical restraints.
- Emotional abuse – Emotional abuse is the infliction of anguish, emotional pain, or distress upon the nursing home patient. It includes such acts as yelling at, insulting, humiliating, cursing at, belittling, or intimidating an elder. Forced social isolation is also considered emotional abuse.
- Sexual abuse – Sexual abuse is any non-consensual sexual act with a nursing home patient. Non-consensual can mean the expressed refusal or the inability of the patient to refuse.
- Financial abuse – Financial abuse is the illegal or improper use of a nursing home patient’s funds, property, or assets. Examples of financial abuse include stealing property, forging the patient’s signature, making changes to the patient’s estate plan through deception, and cashing an elderly person’s checks without authorization.
The advocates at Mission Personal Injury Lawyers want to help end all types of nursing home abuse.
Signs of Nursing Home Abuse in San Diego
The National Center on Elder Abuse encourages concerned individuals to watch for the following warning signs for these different types of nursing home abuse:
Physical Abuse
Common signs and symptoms of physical abuse include:
- Unexplained injuries, including fractures, lacerations, internal injuries, and bruises
- Signs of the use of restraints
- Broken eyeglasses
- Medical tests that confirm under- or over-use of medication
- A sudden change in behavior
- A caregiver who refuses to allow visitors to see the patient alone
Emotional Abuse
Emotional abuse is sometimes evidenced by acts such as:
- Engaging in regressive behaviors, such as sucking their thumbs or biting
- Expressing feeling upset or agitated
- Not communicating with others
Sexual Abuse
Signs of sexual abuse include:
- Bruising around the private areas
- Unexplained sexually transmitted diseases or vaginal or anal bleeding
- Torn, stained, or bloody underwear
Financial Abuse
Financial abuse may be indicated by the following recent changes or actions:
- Changes to authorization on the patient’s financial accounts
- Unexplained withdrawals from the patient’s financial accounts
- Changes in the patient’s estate plan
- Missing valuables or money
- The sudden transfer of assets to others
- The provision of services that are not necessary
Mission Personal Injury Lawyers knows how to prove these types of cases and is ready to help you and your family seek justice.
How Common Is Nursing Home Abuse?
The World Health Organization estimates that one in six people aged 60 or older experienced some type of abuse within the last year. Two in three nursing home staff members worldwide reported they had committed some type of abuse within the past year.
Common Nursing Home Abuse Injuries
Common nursing home abuse injuries include:
- Fractures
- Traumatic head or brain injuries
- Broken or dislocated hips
- Sprains, strains, and other soft tissue injuries
- Wrongful death
If you believe that your loved one may be the victim of abuse, reach out to an experienced lawyer for help.
Who Is Responsible for Nursing Home Abuse?
While the staff member abusing your family member is certainly responsible for their own behavior, the nursing home may also be liable for the harm your loved one has suffered.
Employers could be responsible for the conduct of their employees under vicarious liability doctrine. They may have contributed to the abuse due to understaffing, lack of training, lack of monitoring, or the failure to establish procedures.
What Should You Do If You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse in San Diego, CA?
If you suspect your loved one is currently being abused, take the following steps:
- Report the abuse to the Division of Medi-Cal Fraud & Elder Abuse
- Have your loved one be checked for any injuries
- Report the abuse to the nursing home
- Gather evidence
You should also contact an experienced nursing home abuse lawyer for advice on how to proceed.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our San Diego Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers
If you want to seek justice for your abused loved one, contact Mission Personal Injury Lawyers now. We can explain your rights during a free consultation. We also work on a contingency fee basis, so you’ll only pay us attorney’s fees if we obtain compensation for you. Call today to learn more and begin forming an attorney-client relationship with an experienced San Diego nursing home abuse attorney.
