Riverside Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

Nursing Home Abuse Attorney in Riverside, CA

Nursing home abuse is something that no one should experience, and no family should worry about. Yet, elderly individuals are taken advantage of nearly every day across the country by the very people who promised to care for them. Whether your loved one has been placed in a home near Canyon Crest, a care facility near Fairmount Park, or if they have suffered undue treatment, a Riverside nursing home abuse lawyer is here to help.

Belgum, Fry & Van Allen: Protecting Your Loved One From Nursing Home Abuse

At Belgum, Fry & Van Allen, we are here to make a difference. Our main goal is to ensure your elderly loved one is both cared for and protected. Our attorneys have decades of experience backing them up and will stop at nothing to ensure you and your loved ones are satisfied. While nursing home abuse cases may seem easy to prove on the outside, they are actually extremely difficult, and you need an experienced and aggressive personal injury attorney on your side.

Common Forms of Nursing Home Abuse in Riverside

In Riverside, California, no one wants to believe that their elderly loved one is being abused by caretakers at their nursing home or assisted living facility. However, the harsh reality is that around five million elderly Americans deal with nursing home abuse every year. Nursing home abuse can take several different forms and is generally committed by members of the nursing home staff. The most common forms of nursing home abuse in Riverside include:

• Physical abuse: In some cases, a member of nursing home staff may believe that they can get away with physical abuse simply because the resident is weak or suffers from dementia and may not be able to remember to report the incidents. Family members should be on the lookout for repeated and unexplained falls or injuries, signs of physical restraint, like bruises on wrists and ankles, or cuts on the body.
• Sexual abuse: In America, around 7% of all reported nursing home or elder abuse is sexual in nature. Signs of this kind of abuse can include a recent STD diagnosis, bruising in the resident’s genital area, or inexplicable genital or anal bleeding.
• Emotional abuse: While emotional abuse does not need to include physical contact, it doesn’t mean that it isn’t damaging to the resident who is being victimized. Signs of nursing home emotional abuse include belittling or insulting a resident, residents being threatened or yelled at, controlling the environment of a resident, such as restricting meals or the number of visitors that can be received, and frightened loved ones.
• Financial abuse: Elderly individuals are more prone to financial abuse due to a lack of understanding or emotional manipulation. Signs of financial abuse can include sudden changes in their will or in their power of attorney documents, unexplained withdrawals from their bank account, charges on their credit card, or new cards being opened in their name that cannot be explained, and charges for services that were never performed.
• Medical abuse: This form of abuse can take place due to a misunderstanding, or it may be used as a form of punishment for any alleged behavioral issues on the part of the resident. No matter what, abuse is abuse, and signs of medical abuse include noticeable weight loss, over- or undermedicating patients, and performing unnecessary procedures on residents.
• Overall neglect: Some examples of nursing home negligence can include physical neglect, such as not bathing them or tending to issues such as bedsores, not being regularly provided with proper meals, or failing to notice when a resident is wandering away from the home on a repeated basis.

FAQs

What Should I Do if I Believe My Elderly Loved One Is Being Abused?

Millions of Americans are abused in nursing homes every year, but only about one in 24 cases is actually reported to the appropriate authorities. If you believe your loved one is suffering abuse at their nursing home, there are certain steps you can take to protect them, their rights, and ensure the case is reported. These steps include gathering evidence, like medical reports, and documenting any signs of abuse.

What Are Some Examples of Medical Negligence in a Nursing Home?

There are several different examples of medical negligence that can occur in a nursing home in Riverside. These include the delay of necessary treatment, providing the wrong treatment, performing an unnecessary procedure or surgery, failing to provide a test to an in-need person, failing to provide treatment, and prescribing the wrong or unnecessary medication.

What Are Some Warning Signs of Nursing Home or Elder Abuse in Riverside, CA?

In Riverside, CA, there are several warning signs of nursing home abuse to be aware of. These signs include patient dehydration or malnourishment, understaffing or high staff turnover, unclean residents or overall facilities, unanswered call lights or phone calls, depression, increased anxiety, withdrawal of a loved one, and situations where your loved one shows fear or a desire to avoid specific caregivers.

Do I Need a Lawyer for an Elder Abuse Case in California?

While it is not legally required to have a lawyer on your side in an elder or nursing home abuse case, they can make all the difference when it comes to securing a favorable outcome. Your attorney is here to review your case, determine liability, gather evidence, and ultimately help in seeking the compensation and justice you and your family deserve.

Hire a Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Serving Riverside Today

Winning a nursing home abuse case can not only ensure that you and your loved ones obtain justice and compensation for what you have suffered, but also help ensure such practices never harm another person again. At Belgum, Fry & Van Allen, we see you for exactly what you are: brave. We are here to honor that bravery by standing up and fighting for you. Contact our offices to schedule a free consultation and to hire a nursing home abuse lawyer today.