Montgomery Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys

At Sawyer Law Firm, we are passionate about protecting defenseless individuals who can easily be exposed to hidden nursing home abuse and neglect. If you suspect your loved one has suffered physical, emotional, or medical mistreatment in a nursing home, assisted living facility, or another care center, we urge you to bring your questions, concerns, and suspicions to the attention of experienced nursing home abuse attorney J.P. Sawyer.

 

With more than 25 years of experience representing residents and their families, attorney J.P. Sawyer has built a reputation for attentive, personalized legal help built on creating long-lasting relationships with clients. 

 

Are you or a loved one dealing with nursing home abuse or neglect? Nursing home abuse attorney J.P. Sawyer is ready to defend you. Call us today at (334) 539-0604 or contact us online to get started.

 

What is Nursing Home Abuse?

Abuse in nursing homes can range from physical and sexual abuse, emotional abuse, isolation, failure to provide required food, water, hygiene, or appropriate medical care, willful deprivation of essential maintenance and assistance, and financial exploitation.

 

What is Nursing Home Neglect?

Abuse involves overt actions, while neglect tends to be passive, though not less harmful. Neglect can lead to bedsores, infections, dehydration, and malnutrition. 

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Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Statistics: How Common is Nursing Home Abuse?

According to the World Health Organization’s statistics on nursing home abuse, around 1 in 6 people 60 years and older experienced some form of abuse in community settings during the past year.

 

Rates of abuse of older people are high in institutions such as nursing homes and long-term care facilities, with 2 in 3 staff reporting that they have committed abuse in the past year. Rates of abuse of older people have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Abuse of older people can lead to serious physical injuries and long-term psychological consequences.

 

Over a million people in the United States wake up daily in a nursing home. Many of these individuals are helpless, vulnerable, and dependent on nursing home staff to meet their daily needs. Unfortunately, the quality of care in the nursing home industry has increasingly declined over the past decade

 

What are the Signs of Nursing Home Abuse?

If your loved one resides in a nursing home or other care center for the elderly, keeping an eye out for telltale clues or signs that may point to abuse and neglect is a good idea.

 

Signs of both neglect and abuse can include:

• Bedsores

• Dehydration

• Broken bones

• Unexplained bruising, sprains, welts, scars, or dislocations

• Falls

• Malnutrition

• Fear of and other emotional reactions toward staff

• Infections

• Staff advising you that you cannot visit your loved one

• Burns

• Untreated or new health problems

• Indications of restraint, such as marks on wrists

• Torn and/or bleeding skin

• Depression and anxiety

• Medication errors, including overmedication

• Sudden and unexpected trips to the hospital

• Intimidation, harassment, threats, belittlement, or hostile behavior

• Withdrawal of the resident from normal activities

• Agitation, demonstrated by rocking motions, mumbling, or frantic behavior

• Weight loss

• Missing funds from financial accounts

• Added new users to bank accounts and credit cards

• Suspicious changes in estate planning documents, such as wills, titles, and more

 

What Rights Do Nursing Home Residents Have?

Those confined to nursing homes and other elder-care facilities have certain rights. These rights include the right to be fully informed of their health status and records, their choice of doctor and medical decisions, how they are treated, and preferences in interacting with staff and others within the home.

 

Other rights include:

• Respectful treatment

• Freedom to participate in activities

• Freedom from discrimination, abuse, restraint, and neglect

• Freedom to make complaints

• Freedom to manage their money as they see fit

• Freedom to leave 

 

How to Report Nursing Home Abuse

When a loved one has been the victim of nursing home abuse, hiring an experienced attorney is essential for ensuring that your family receives justice. Alabama nursing home abuse lawyer J.P. Sawyer can offer legal counsel, create an action plan to pursue damages, provide resources, and represent your loved one both in and out of court hearings.

 

Our legal team is experienced in nursing home abuse cases and is familiar with the laws specific to this type of matter. We are prepared to navigate a complicated legal process while protecting your loved one's best interests. Check for general cleanliness and ensure your elderly loved one receives proper hygienic care if you notice recurring errors or see signs of abuse, document what you observe, and take pictures as evidence.

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What damages are available in a nursing home lawsuit?

The damages that are available include both economic as well as non-economic damages. Economic damages will include any medical expenses that were required to address physical harm done to the resident.

 

Non-economic damages would include pain and suffering and the emotional distress caused by the abuse or neglect. If your loved one died due to abuse or neglect, you may be entitled to wrongful death damages.

 

If you or a loved one has been a victim of nursing home abuse or neglect, call our Montgomery nursing home abuse lawyer. Our Alabama law firm is ready to help you and your family get the best care possible.

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National Recognition in Nursing Home Abuse Cases

Montgomery attorney J.P. Sawyer has investigated instances of nursing home abuse and neglect throughout the country. We have made a personal commitment to battling this epidemic and will continue to pursue these cases despite their increasing difficulty and complication due to changes in the law.

 

With a strong nursing home abuse attorney on your side, you can fight for justice on behalf of your loved one which may include damages for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. You will also be ensuring that both they and their fellow residents will be given the quality of care they deserve in the future.