Baton Rouge Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
As the global population ages and more residents are in a nursing home or long-term care facility, the overall prevalence of nursing home abuse has increased. Under Louisiana law, you can file for damages in a nursing home abuse case, and a Baton Rouge personal injury attorney from Murray Law can help.
If you trusted a Baton Rouge nursing home for the care of a loved one and suspect nursing home neglect, then call our nursing home abuse lawyers at (225) 396 5143. The state of Louisiana takes elder abuse seriously. Our nursing home abuse lawyers protect your rights.
Why You Need Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
Nursing homes and long-term care facilities have a lot to lose if they have to pay out enormous settlements. They secure their own legal counsel to help them save money by finding legal loopholes to justify lowering your settlement.
You should hire an attorney who has positive reviews from past clients, an impressive track record in court, and access to expert witnesses who can provide valuable testimony in your case. When you come in for your free consultation at Murray Law, you should ask us about our history and the considerable settlements we have won for past clients.
What Is the Most Common Abuse In Nursing Homes?
The most common type of abuse in nursing homes is emotional, with the World Health Organization (WHO) reporting that over 32% of nursing home staff members said they emotionally abused residents.
What is Nursing Home Abuse?
Nursing home abuse occurs when nursing home residents are abused or neglected by the caregivers hired to keep them safe and healthy. Both intentional and unintentional harm are considered elder abuse and neglect in the state of Louisiana. Many take advantage of elderly residents’ weakening memory.
What are the Signs of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect?
Nursing home residents can appear very anxious or reticent to talk about what’s going on because they are afraid that the staff at the nursing home will hear them or retaliate against them. Some of the signs of elder abuse and nursing home neglect in a loved one are:
- Depression
- Seeming withdrawn or non-communicative
- Getting easily agitated
- Isolating from family and friends
- Appearing unwashed or dirty
- Confusion
Types of Abuse in Nursing Homes
Nursing home abuse typically falls into three categories:
- Physical abuse
- Emotional abuse
- Financial abuse
Sometimes family members see changes in their loved ones or witness concerning things firsthand. Others find out about nursing home abuse through the news, social media, or after a tragedy, when it is too late. It is much harder for someone who lives outside of Baton Rouge to see the inside of a nursing home, but some people do notice signs of abuse and neglect even from a distance. Financial abuse, for example, may be spotted by a relative who has access to the resident’s bank records.
Signs of Emotional Abuse
Nursing home employees who humiliate or shame nursing home residents and mock their disabilities can cause a loved one to suffer from depression, anxiety, and anger. Some nursing home residents who are emotionally abused avoid eye contact, refuse to interact or talk to others, and have a sudden change in their personality. It is incredibly upsetting to find out that your loved one is living in fear. Call us so we can help.
Signs of Financial Abuse
Signs of financial abuse in a Baton Rouge nursing home include unusual activity in your loved one’s bank accounts, especially when the elderly person was not in the habit of using an ATM or debit card. Adding additional names on their card, unexplained disappearances of valuable possessions, or documents with forged signatures are all signs of financial exploitation in a nursing home. You should contact a Baton Rouge nursing home abuse lawyer right away if there was an abrupt change in your family member’s will or if there are unpaid bills despite the elderly person’s availability of adequate financial resources.
Signs of Physical Abuse of an Elder Person
Some of the physical signs of nursing home negligence are
- Pressure ulcers/bedsores
- Dehydration
- Broken bones
- Bruises
- Malnutrition
What Is the Statute of Limitations for Nursing Home Abuse in Louisiana?
The statute of limitations is the legal time limit that you have to file your nursing home negligence claim. In the state of Louisiana, you have one year from the date of an accident or discovery of the abuse to file your personal injury claim against the owner or operator of the facility.
Reporting Nursing Home Abuse
You can report potential elder abuse by calling The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH), Health Standards Section (HSS) at 888-810-1819. They will investigate your complaint.
You can also give us a call today at 225-925-1110 if you want to talk to an attorney before you report. We offer a free consultation so you can talk with us and learn more about your legal options and rights. Nursing home abuse is distressing, so we get to work fighting for you.
How Long Do I Have to File a Negligence Claim?
Although you have a year to file a nursing home negligence claim, there are benefits to filing much sooner. We recommend that you call us within 24 hours of discovering signs of nursing home neglect. The sooner you report Baton Rouge nursing home abuse and neglect, the quicker we can act to collect evidence before it could be destroyed or tampered with. Call (225) 396-5143 today to talk with one of our nursing home abuse lawyers.
Contact Our Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys
Murray Law is a personal injury firm based in Baton Rouge that has helped nursing home residents get justice and sizable settlements in their abuse and neglect lawsuits. We keep you informed of the progression of your nursing home abuse and neglect case. We get to know our clients and handle each case personally. We care about you and your loved one’s best interests, and thoroughly prepare in case we need to take your case to trial.