Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer in Greeley

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer in Greeley ImageAs our parents and elderly loved ones age, we’re often faced with the hard decision of placing them in a nursing home. Sometimes, that is the best decision we can make for our family member. The skills of the staff at a nursing home are often exactly what an elderly individual needs, and so, as hard as the decision is, we make it assuming they’ll be in the best hands possible.

That makes discovering that your loved one is suffering abuse or neglect in that nursing home even more devastating. After all, you trusted them to take care of your mother, father, or even grandparent with love and compassion.

At The Wilhite Law Firm, we understand how you’re feeling, and our nursing home abuse lawyers in Greeley are here to fight for your loved one’s justice and dignity. We understand the importance of addressing elder abuse and holding negligent facilities accountable. Call us today at 970-782-2392 or contact us online for a free consultation about how we can pursue compensation and justice for your loved one.

Warning Signs of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect

When you visit your loved one in a nursing home, you hope to see them happy, healthy, and thriving. However, there are many instances where you might feel something is off. It’s crucial to be able to recognize the signs of elder abuse so that you can act quickly. Be on the lookout for these common signs of abuse and neglect:

  • Unexplained bruises, cuts, or fractures
  • Frequent falls
  • Evidence of restraints
  • Burns
  • Frequent ER visits
  • Bedsores
  • Dehydration
  • Sudden weight loss or malnutrition
  • Poor hygiene or unsanitary living conditions
  • Withdrawal or fearfulness
  • Unusual financial transactions or missing belongings
  • Changes to wills, power of attorney, or other legal documents
  • Bills going unpaid

These are some of the most common indicators that elder abuse is taking place. However, these aren’t the only signs of abuse. If you see something that leads you to believe your loved one isn’t being cared for the way they should be, trust your gut. Elder abuse is one of the most underreported crimes, and early reporting can save your loved one’s life.

What to Do If You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse

It’s vital to act quickly when you suspect nursing home abuse, because you want to keep your loved one as safe as possible and end the abuse as quickly as you can. However, you might be wondering what you should do. There are a few steps you can take to protect your loved one:

  • Keep Them Safe: You should remove your loved one from the facility as quickly as possible, especially if they are in physical danger. It’s important to remember how fragile an older person may be. You may need to temporarily house them or find a new nursing home immediately.
  • Document Evidence: Take photos of your loved one’s injuries. You should also take pictures of their living conditions. Document anything of medical importance as well, including medications being provided and dosages, especially if these don’t add up to what you know your loved one has been prescribed.
  • Report Abuse: No matter what kind of abuse you suspect your loved one has suffered, your next step should be to report it to Colorado Adult Protective Services or your local authorities.
  • Consult an Attorney: It’s important to seek proper legal advice. A Greeley nursing home abuse attorney will understand the intricacies of elder law and local law in Greeley.

Any abuse of an elderly person must be taken seriously. Some nursing home abuse ends in fatality, depending on the type of abuse and the extent to which it’s happening. An attorney can help you hold the nursing home accountable for the pain and suffering of your family member, and if the abuse led to their death, an attorney will help you prove that and seek compensation and justice for your departed loved one.

Compensation for Victims of Nursing Home Abuse

Your loved one has rights under the law. If they’ve been harmed by the negligence or misconduct of others, one of those rights is the right to pursue compensation for the losses they’ve suffered. An experienced nursing home attorney can assess the value of your loved one’s claim to determine how much compensation to demand from the at-fault party. You may be entitled to seek money for a variety of losses, including:

  • Medical Expenses: If your loved one was physically or medically abused and requires treatment or rehabilitation, you can hold the nursing home liable for these costs.
  • Pain and Suffering: Your loved one has likely been suffering either physical or emotional distress. Compensation may be available for this as well.
  • Loss of Enjoyment of Life: Diminished quality of life is an intangible loss, but it is a loss, all the same. For instance, if a senior who once enjoyed socializing or gardening can no longer participate in these activities out of physical inability or emotional suffering, this is loss of enjoyment of life.
  • Wrongful Death: When the abuse suffered leads to a nursing home resident’s death, a wrongful death claim or lawsuit can be filed to seek compensation for funeral expenses and other losses the family suffered because of the death.

In addition, if any financial losses were suffered as a result of the abuse, a lawyer can help you secure compensation for this theft as well. The nursing home responsible for the abuse and neglect should be accountable for all the losses that occurred due to its negligence.

Common Defenses Nursing Homes Use

Caregiver assisting a smiling elderly woman using a white caneNursing homes often use clever defenses to avoid taking responsibility and paying out any form of compensation to residents who suffer under their care. The goal is to downplay responsibility, shift blame, and minimize the extent of the abuse. Some common defenses used are:

  • Denial: The facility may deny any wrongdoing, alleging that the abuse or neglect never took place. They may claim that the staff followed protocol and provided proper care.
  • Blaming Pre-Existing Conditions: Another common defense tactic is to blame the symptoms of abuse on pre-existing conditions, including simple age-related decline.
  • Claiming Unavoidable Accidents: Nursing homes may claim that incidents like falls, pressure ulcers, or medication errors are unavoidable accidents.
  • Shifting Blame: Some facilities will try to place the blame on any other external party they can. This includes healthcare providers, visiting family members, or even other residents.
  • Minimizing the Impact of the Abuse: If there is no plausible deniability, the facility may admit to a mistake. However, they will downplay its severity and insist that the resident was not seriously harmed.

Each of these defenses is common enough that an experienced nursing home abuse lawyer will know how to respond effectively to them. Countering these defenses and demanding the proper compensation requires investigation, evidence, and sometimes expert opinions.

Why Choose The Wilhite Law Firm?

At The Wilhite Law Firm, we have over forty-five years of experience. We have recovered more than one billion dollars for our clients across Colorado, thanks to our experience and knowledge of Colorado law. We handle all kinds of nursing home abuse cases, including:

  • Physical abuse
  • Emotional abuse
  • Sexual abuse
  • Financial exploitation
  • Neglect
  • Abandonment
  • Medication mismanagement

Our nursing home injury lawyers in Greeley know how important our aging loved ones are. We’re ready to help you. If you suspect your loved one is suffering from nursing home abuse or neglect, don’t wait. Contact us at 970-782-2392. We will provide you with a free consultation so that we can review your case together. Our experienced nursing home abuse lawyers are here to help you handle this challenging situation and fight for the dignity your loved one deserves.