When families place their loved ones in a nursing home, they are putting their trust in the facility and its staff. Everyone hopes that their family members will be safe and will receive compassionate care. However, for some families, this decision turns into a nightmare when their loved ones become victims of nursing home sexual abuse.
If you suspect abuse of a family member or close friend, you need help from a nursing home abuse attorney. Abuse can be addressed by law enforcement, but you may not have realized that you can also file a personal injury lawsuit against the abuser, their employer, and other responsible defendants. For more information, contact our nursing home sexual abuse lawyers in Allentown at Soloff & Zervanos, P.C. for help.
Nursing home sexual assault is a deeply disturbing and frequently hidden issue. Many victims struggle to understand or report what has occurred, especially if they have dementia, Alzheimer’s, or other medical conditions that make communication difficult.
Assaults may be perpetrated by anyone who has access, including staff members, fellow residents, or even external contractors. When facilities fail to do background checks or otherwise screen who they employ, they become complicit in the abuse and endanger vulnerable residents.
If there are concerns about abuse, families should watch for physical and behavioral warning signs like unexplained injuries, difficulty walking or sitting, and sudden shifts in mood or cognitive function. Even if they cannot speak, victims may refuse to be alone with specific staff or residents or express fear. While these indicators do not always confirm sexual abuse, families should not ignore them and consider help from an Allentown attorney.
In addition to the person or people who actually committed the abuse, there may be several other defendants in a nursing home sexual abuse case. Depending on the circumstances, the facility owners may also be liable for negligent hiring practices. They may also be liable for failure to properly supervise a staff member or for ignoring incidents reported by others.
If the facility is owned by a larger chain and there is evidence of negligent practices throughout the network of nursing homes, then corporate parent companies may also be held responsible. When abuse is committed by a third-party provider who had access to the victim, like a cleaning service, food service provider, medical provider, or other worker, then their company may also be liable. Our lawyers in Allentown will work to identify all possible defendants to hold all parties responsible in your nursing home sexual abuse case.
Damages in nursing home sexual assault cases are intended to compensate victims for their losses, both economic and non-economic, while holding the negligent parties financially accountable. They may cover the cost of medical and mental health visits, pain and suffering, and the loss of enjoyment of life.
Pennsylvania law also permits punitive damages in personal injury cases involving malicious or willful misconduct, wanton conduct or extreme recklessness, gross negligence, or repeated misconduct. These damages are intended to punish the wrongdoer and discourage future abuse.
It can be devastating to learn that your loved one was abused, especially by someone that you trusted and paid to care for them. Vulnerable older people and those with special needs deserve to be protected and appreciated, not exploited.
If you are struggling with how to help a family member who was abused, our compassionate nursing home sexual abuse lawyer in Allentown at Soloff & Zervanos, P.C. can help. Contact us today to get started.