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New Haven Nursing Home Negligence Lawyer

Nursing homes care for some of the most vulnerable people in our society. These facilities have a responsibility to provide adequate care and treatment for their patients. Given the fragile nature of most of the residents’ health, any negligence or lapses in care can be devastating, resulting in serious injuries or even wrongful death.

When a nursing home fails to provide that adequate degree of care, causing harm to your loved one, you have legal options to hold the facility accountable for the pain it caused. At Jacobs & Jacobs, we have the necessary experience and knowledge needed to successfully fight nursing home negligence. We believe that all people are owed dignity and reasonable care in their later years, and we fight for these individuals with determination. To discuss the injuries your loved one has endured, please contact a New Haven nursing home negligence lawyer at our law firm today at (475) 323-6562.

What Is Nursing Home Negligence?

There are state and federal laws that require nursing homes to provide an appropriate amount of care to their residence. Legally, all nursing homes must take steps to maintain residents’ physical, emotional and psychosocial wellbeing. If a nursing home or one of its employees fails to fulfill its legal and ethical duties, this is called nursing home negligence. If the nursing home’s violations go beyond simple carelessness or neglect and into an intent to harm an elderly victim, it is nursing home abuse. Both abuse and neglect can have serious consequences for a vulnerable senior citizen who is dependent upon a nursing home for care.

How Jacobs & Jacobs Handles Cases of Nursing Home Injuries and Neglect

Our lawyers understand nursing home standards and expectations. We will thoroughly investigate the facility and the care it provided your loved one, looking for instances where errors or negligence occurred.

Common examples of nursing home neglect and injuries include:

  • Bedsores: Bedsores (decubitus ulcers), are often the result of staff neglecting to turn the patient enough to prevent pressure sores from forming or becoming infected. If not treated, these sores can even result in death from infection.
  • Failure to assist: Many nursing home residents are immobile and dependent on staff and others for help in basic tasks, such as eating or going to the bathroom. If they are forced to try on their own due to negligence by the staff, they can easily fall and break bones.
  • Malnutrition or dehydration: It is not uncommon for facilities to neglect the most basic of needs—proper food, nutrition, and hydration.
  • Over-medication or under-medication: Carelessness on the part of staff can result in misread charts and dangerous mistakes in medication. There have even been cases of staff deliberately overmedicating residents so that they do not need as much care.
  • Transportation or restraint injuries: Proper safety procedures are crucial when transporting a patient or applying restraints.
  • Wandering off injuries: Sometimes referred to as “elopement,” wandering off by your loved one can lead to serious injuries, particularly if the nursing home is in a high-traffic area.
  • Sexual, physical, or verbal abuse: Instances of abuse are unacceptable in a facility that is tasked with caring for your loved one.

There are many different types of nursing home neglect and abuse, even beyond this list. If you suspect that your elderly loved one is being mistreated or improperly cared for in any respect at a nursing home in New Haven, take immediate action to protect his or her life and seek a legal remedy.

Signs of Nursing Home Negligence and Abuse

Experts believe that dangerous, neglectful and abusive conditions at nursing homes are vastly underreported. Many elderly victims do not come forward against their abusers for fear of not being believed, fear of retaliation, confusion as to what constitutes neglect or abuse, difficulty or the inability to communicate, and cognitive challenges or deterioration. It is often up to family members to visit their loved ones enough to detect changes in a senior citizen, as well as potential signs and red flags for nursing home negligence.

Physical signs:

  • Unexplained injuries
  • Frequent trips to a medical center
  • Unusual bruising or restraint marks
  • Signs of malnutrition or dehydration
  • Unkempt appearance
  • Dislocations
  • Broken bones
  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Bite or burn marks
  • Genital injuries
  • Sexually transmitted diseases
  • Overall health deteriorations

Emotional or behavioral signs:

  • Withdrawal or isolation
  • Detachment
  • Loss of interest in favorite activities
  • Depression or anxiety
  • Guilt or shame
  • Fear or agitation
  • Sudden cognitive declines
  • Suicidal thoughts or behaviors

Financial signs:

  • Large withdrawals from bank accounts
  • Checks made out to cash
  • Missing money or valuables
  • Extravagant gifts given to caregivers or nursing home staff
  • Unexpected changes to wills or estate plans
  • Multiple bills for the same medical or care service

If you suspect nursing home negligence, abuse, sexual assault or financial exploitation in New Haven – either against yourself or someone you know – report it to the nursing home immediately. Tell a trusted friend, family member or doctor about the crime, as well. Get medical care for any injuries right away. Involve the police if the situation is an emergency. Then, turn to a nursing home negligence attorney for legal assistance. An attorney can help you go up against a negligent or abusive facility.

How Much Is Your Nursing Home Negligence Case Worth?

At Jacobs & Jacobs, we did not become advocates of neglected and abused nursing home residents for the money. In the same vein, we know that the clients who come to us for help with these cases are looking for more than just a payout. We are just as passionate as our clients about holding nursing homes accountable for the dangerous and wrongful actions of managers, caregivers, cleaning staff, nurses and others.

That being said, we also recognize the sense of justice, accountability and financial peace that can come with a successful settlement or judgment award against a nursing home. A nursing home negligence lawsuit in New Haven could result in financial compensation for the victim’s following losses:

  • Medical bills
  • Rehabilitation
  • Medications
  • Live-in care
  • Physical pain
  • Emotional distress
  • Mental anguish
  • Financial losses
  • Legal expenses
  • Wrongful death damages
  • Punitive damages

The value of your case will depend on the specific losses suffered, as well as the severity of the victim’s injuries and the actions of the defendant. Our New Haven personal injury attorneys at Jacobs & Jacobs can estimate the value of your lawsuit and help your family pursue just compensation for your past and future losses. We care about holding wrongdoers responsible for elder neglect and abuse.

Contact Our Nursing Home Negligence and Abuse Lawyers in New Haven

If a loved one is in a nursing home and you notice unusual changes, looks of fear, bruises, or unexplained injuries, talk to the staff. If the answers don’t make sense, talk to a New Haven nursing home negligence attorney at Jacobs & Jacobs to handle any case resulting from the damage done by nursing home negligence. Please call us at (475) 323-6562.

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