When a loved one experiences nursing home neglect, it can lead to serious mental and physical distress, often causing a rapid deterioration in health, depression or, in extreme cases, even wrongful death. By law, nursing homes are required to provide a safe and secure environment with adequate supervision and assistance to residents. Failure to provide such care may entitle you and your loved one to just compensation.
If you live in the New Jersey, Lancaster, Reading, Allentown, Philadelphia or New York area and have been a victim of nursing home abuse, an attorney at our office is waiting to hear from you. The experienced attorneys at Soloff & Zervanos, P.C., want to ensure that your loved one is protected from all forms of nursing home neglect.
- Ulcers/Bedsores
- Falls
- Wandering
- Elopement
- Abuse
Contact Soloff & Zervanos, P.C.
Nursing home abuse or neglect can be serious and life altering. Contact our lawyers at Soloff & Zervanos, P.C., and get the settlement your loved one deserves.
Data surrounding nursing home neglect
Data available from the National Council on Aging shows that approximately one out of every ten people in this country over the age of 60 have experienced some form of elder abuse. In most cases, this abuse comes in the form of neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, financial abuse, or emotional and psychological abuse.
However, elder abuse and neglect are vastly understudied in the United States. Additional studies funded by the National Institutes of Health show that only around one out of every 14 cases of elder abuse or neglect are actually reported to authorities.
What kind of compensation is available for nursing home neglect case?
There may be various types of compensation available for victims of neglect inside of a nursing home. First, the number one goal of our attorneys is to help families ensure that their loved ones no longer suffer from any type of abuse or neglect. This may involve working closely with law enforcement officials and regulators in Philadelphia to determine what happened, prevent it from happening in the future, and hold employees and facilities accountable for their actions.
At Soloff & Zervanos, P.C., we are regularly able to help family members and neglected elderly residents recover the following types with compensation:
- Complete coverage of any medical bills caused by the neglect or abuse
- Compensation to relocate to a new facility
- Compensation for continued care at the current facility
- Coverage of pain and suffering damages
- Loss of quality of life damages
- Possible punitive damages against the nursing home facility
The total amount of compensation available in these cases will vary depending on the facts and circumstances surrounding each situation. Our attorneys will investigate every aspect of these claims and help determine what the appropriate amount should be.
Explaining the forms of nursing home neglect in Philadelphia
Ulcers/Bedsores
Ulcers and bedsores are a serious medical problem which can affect bedridden patients due to neglect. Some elderly patients are particularly vulnerable if they are not repositioned regularly. Prolonged pressure of body weight on a bony area with only a thin layer of cushioning flesh can cause extremely painful sores to develop. Residents may suffer from ulcers or bedsores due to improper care by the nursing home staff. These injuries are preventable if the workers at a nursing home adhere to proper standards of care.
If your loved one has ulcers or bedsores due to living in a long-term care facility in the New Jersey, Lancaster, Philadelphia, Reading, Allentown or New York area, contact a nursing home abuse attorney at Soloff & Zervanos, P.C. We will give you a free comprehensive case analysis.
Falls
Elderly residents of nursing care facilities sustain a substantial number of injuries due to falls each year. Often many falls go unreported. Serious or chronic falls can rob a resident of confidence and negatively impact their quality of life. Elderly residents of nursing homes require proper and conscientious supervision in a nursing home environment. The elderly residents are often susceptible to falls that may result in immediate injury or health complications in the future, including broken bones, surgeries and other risks.
If someone you love has been seriously injured in a fall due to nursing home neglect, please contact Soloff & Zervanos, P.C., today for a free comprehensive review of your case.
Wandering
Wandering is when an elderly person in the care of a nursing facility moves about the home unsupervised. Federal nursing home law requires an assessment of the patient upon entering the nursing facility. This assessment will determine the elderly person’s plan of care and how much supervision he or she needs while under the care of the home. Wandering is one of the aspects covered in that assessment.
Under the individual’s plan of care, it is the nursing home’s responsibility to ensure the safety and supervision of its residents with enough staff to support those individual plans. If someone is injured while wandering within the long-term care facility, then the nursing home has been negligent in protecting its residents. With locations in Cherry Hill, Lancaster, Philadelphia, Reading, Allentown and New York, a Philadelphia Nursing Home Abuse Attorney from Soloff & Zervanos, P.C., can get your loved one the compensation they deserve. Don’t allow a nursing facility to neglect your family; contact Soloff & Zervanos, P.C., today.
Elopement
Confusion and disorientation may cause a resident to walk out of the nursing home and into harm’s way. Nursing homes are responsible for the well-being of their residents and should install precautionary measures, such as bed alarms, door alarms or monitors at exit doors, to prevent such occurrences. When adequate measures are not taken, an elderly person could get injured.
If an injury occurs due to elopement from a nursing home, employees and administrators of that facility have acted negligently and should be held liable for their actions. Their negligence could also be related to the facility’s failure to hire enough staff or properly train the staff to supervise the residents. The home could also be held liable for failing to use alarm systems or other devices to avoid elopement.
If someone you love has been seriously injured after wandering away from a senior facility located in the New Jersey, Philadelphia, Lancaster, Reading, Allentown or New York area, contact a Philadelphia Nursing Home Abuse Attorney at Soloff & Zervanos, P.C., today for a free comprehensive review of your case.
Abuse
The mistreatment of the elderly is a heart-wrenching experience for both the victim and family members. Nursing home abuse and neglect can be defined as the failure to provide essential health and safety services, as well as the act of compromising the resident’s quality of life.
Abuse can take many forms. Patients could be the victims of devastating physical or sexual abuse that can leave deep emotional scars. Whether intentional or not, improperly restraining a resident also constitutes abuse. Improper restraints include anything that is not a doctor-approved restraining device such as leg and arm restraints, wheelchair bars and restrictive hand mittens. Withholding food and medical care definitely constitutes abuse and could cause a rapid deterioration of health, and possibly even long-term damage to the patient’s health. Additionally, without the opportunity to exercise and socialize, the mental and physical state of a senior could also quickly decline. Depression, mental disorders or death could result if long-term care providers do not take proper care of residents.
Contact an elder abuse lawyer in Philadelphia today
If you suspect that your loved one has been the victim of abuse or neglect inside of a nursing home, contact the team at Soloff & Zervanos, P.C. as soon as possible. Our compassionate and qualified team has extensive experience handling these cases, and we understand what it takes to obtain the compensation and closure your loved one deserves. Do not hesitate to seek outside assistance when ensuring that your loved one is properly cared for. When you need a Philadelphia elder abuse and neglect attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling us at 866-597-8572.