Nursing Home Abuse Information From Our Attorneys in Phoenix, Arizona

If you have ever had to make the difficult decision to move an elderly loved one into a nursing home, you probably chose a facility based on the professionalism and kindness of its staff. Sadly, even in an excellent nursing home, abuse of elders is not unheard of. When discovered, nursing home abuse should be reported immediately not only to experienced attorneys, but to the appropriate government agencies in Phoenix and the state of Arizona.

Nursing Home Abuse Defined

As with other forms of medical malpractice, nursing home or elder abuse can be defined as a caretaker’s breach of duty to provide an acceptable level of professionally trained treatment and care.

Nursing home abuse can take many forms. In addition to physical abuse such as pushing, slapping, hitting or inappropriately touching the elder, negligent treatment including deliberate withholding of food and water also qualifies as abuse. An employee can also cause psychological harm by threatening or berating the elder.

In some cases, the abuse does not physically involve the elder, as with financial abuse. This entails taking advantage of an elder’s reduced mental or physical capacity to steal money or misuse their funds.

It may be difficult to ascertain whether your elder is experiencing nursing home abuse. The attorneys of Phillips Law Group, serving Phoenix and Arizona, suggest the following warning signs that might indicate possible abuse:

• Signs of malnutrition or dehydration
• Poor hygiene
• Bruises, scrapes, or broken bones
• Demonstrated fear of nursing home employees
• Missing funds
• Open Sores (Decubitus Ulcers)

What to Do Next

If you have noticed any of these warning signs, it might be appropriate to begin investigating the staff, facility, and other residents for signs of nursing home abuse. You can and should report health code violations and nursing home abuse to both Adult Protective Services and the Arizona Department of Health. In addition, do not hesitate to contact the nursing home abuse attorneys of Phillips Law Group, serving Phoenix and all of Arizona. A medical malpractice lawsuit may not only win compensation for your loved one, but possibly will prevent other elders in the facility from being abused in the future.

To learn more about the steps you need to take to file a nursing home abuse lawsuit, contact the medical malpractice attorneys of Phillips Law Group today. Your quick action is essential to both your case and the well-being of your loved one.

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