Nursing Home Abuse

When you or a loved one is in a nursing home or assisted care living facility, you trust that the facility will provide professional care. Unfortunately, neglect and abuse of the elderly happens every day in long-term care facilities licensed as nursing home or assisted care living facilities.

This abuse can be physical, emotional or simple negligence – unexplained falls, not following medication schedules, or not complying with medical advice. We believe that nursing home operators should be accountable when they provide substandard care for their patients.

Injuries and neglect at long-term care facilities may be Medical Malpractice, and should be reviewed by a qualified trial attorney who is experienced in the litigation of cases. Nursing home negligence lawyer Spencer Farris has the experience to handle cases involving elder abuse and will give your case the attention it deserves.

If you suspect abuse or negligence, make detailed notes of your visits to the facility and take photos to document the situation, too, if possible. The National Center on Elder Abuse provides helpful hotlines and referral sources in their State Resource Directory.

In Missouri, the time limit to file Medical Malpractice lawsuits is two years or they are forever barred by law. In other states, and for claims involving federal entities, that limit is often even shorter. This means that delaying investigation of a malpractice claim may unwittingly mean it can never be pursued.

Putting a loved one in a nursing home or assisted living facility can be a tough, emotional decision. What makes it harder is finding a facility that you trust to care for your loved one. Unfortunately, Missouri nursing home abuse is regularly reported at many facilities across the state, while many more cases go unreported each year. According to the National Center on Elder Abuse, “elders who experienced abuse, even modest abuse, had a 300% higher risk of death when compared to those who had not been abused.”

Nursing homes and healthcare professionals are required to provide a reasonable level of care to their residents. If they fail to do so and cause injury to your loved one as a result, you have the right to hold them accountable. The Missouri nursing home abuse lawyers at The S.E. Farris Law Firm can help you identify the signs of nursing home abuse, file reports, and pursue compensation for abuse-related injuries.

There are several different types of elder abuse, including physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, neglect, abandonment, and financial or material exploitation. Some obvious signs of abuse include bedsores, unexplained bruises, untreated health problems, unsanitary living conditions, or complaints from your loved one of bad treatment by nurses or staff members. There are many more signs and symptoms that can be harder to notice, especially if the victim is unable or unwilling to talk about it.

If you suspect that an elderly or disabled loved one has been abused while in the care of a Missouri nursing home, or has died as a result of nursing home abuse, contact The S.E. Farris Law Firm for a free consultation. Visit FarrisLaw.net to submit your case details online or call us directly at (314) 252-9937. We represent the victims of nursing home abuse on a contingent fee basis, which means there is no cost to you unless you win your case.

If you suspect abuse or negligence at a long-term care facility, you should:

  • Immediately notify the head of the facility and document it in writing. Ask that they investigate and call you within a reasonable period of time.
  • Make more frequent, unexpected visits so you can keep a close eye on the potentially abused or neglected person.
  • Follow up on your request, and if it is causing serious medical problems, request a doctor be consulted immediately, then follow-up with the doctor directly.
  • Make detailed notes of your visits to the facility – what you observe, what you are told, and the problems you are seeing. Take photos to document the situation, too, if possible.

Detecting Elder Abuse is not always easy. Nursing home abuse & neglect warning signs are available to you online. Learn what signs to look for.

If you or a loved one is a victim of Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect, contact The S.E. Farris Law Firm at 314-A-LAWYER (252-9937) today for a free consultation.

Call The Farris Law Firm at 314-A-LAWYER (252-9937) to discuss your case.