Nursing Home Abuse

If you trusted a nursing home or assisted living facility to care for a family member or loved one, and now you suspect abuse, you are not alone. Sadly, nursing home abuse among our seniors is on the rise. Every year one out of four nursing homes is cited for causing death or injury to a resident. In 2007, more than 90 percent of nursing homes were cited for federal health and safety violations according to a report from the Department of Health and Human Services. If you have a loved one who has suffered serious harm in a nursing home talk to a Seattle nursing home abuse attorney at Wattel & York, Attorneys At Law.

It is important to know the rights of a nursing home resident. Nursing home residents are entitled to be treated with dignity and care. The best way to protect your loved one who is in the care of a nursing home is to be fully informed of his or her rights. Residents rights include, but are not limited to:

• Respect – Nursing home residents have the right to be cared for in such a way that it enhances their quality of life.
•  Services and Fees – All nursing home residents have the right to be informed of the services, charges, rules, and regulations of their nursing home facility.
• Money and Possessions – Nursing home residents have the right to manage their own assets and money or to choose someone to do it for them. Residents have the right to the security of their possessions, both financial and material.
• Privacy – Nursing home residents have the right to confidentiality regarding all of their affairs, including visitation and medical care, as well as the right to privacy.
• Independent decisions – Nursing home residents have the right to make independent decisions regarding their own wardrobe, diet, counseling, and exercise.
• Medical Care – Nursing home residents have the right to information regarding their medical status, medications, and the right to choose their own physician. Residents also have the right to refuse medications and treatments.
• Transfers – Nursing home residents are afforded the right to safe transfers between facilities, and the right to a 30-day notice before any transfer or discharge.
• Visits – Nursing home residents have the right to receive visits, whether they are personal, social, medical, or legal in nature.

If you suspect your legal rights or the rights of a loved one are being violated and denied any of these rights, contact a Seattle nursing home abuse lawyer at Wattel & York, Attorneys at Law, today at 877-572-4143 for a free consultation.

Nursing homes provide a valuable and necessary service in our society. The take care of our elderly family members when we cannot care for them at home. Unfortunately, the elderly are particularly susceptible to the risks of abuse, neglect, and abandonment. Victims of nursing home abuse are frequently too weak or frightened to report their abuse to family members or nursing home authorities. It is the responsibility of friends and family members to closely monitor the care of their loved ones, and to be alert to any signs of abuse. The most common signs of nursing home abuse and neglect are:

• Malnutrition or dehydration
• Falls and fractures
• Theft of money and belongings
• Poor personal hygiene
• Improper, incorrect, or over-medication
• Untrained or insufficient staff
• Bed sores
• Lack of supervision (residents wandering away from the facility)
• Physical abuse or unexplained injury
• Weight loss or gain
• Physical or chemical restraints
• Septic shock
• Gangrene
• Unexpected or wrongful death
• Unsanitary conditions
• Over-sedation
• Abandonment
• Substandard medical care
• Defective equipment
• Sexual assault
• Sudden behavioral changes, including agitation, anger, dissonance, confusion, or depression
• Limited visitation rights or lack of unsupervised visit

If you or your loved ones has been seriously injured or died as a result of nursing home staff negligence or abuse, contact Wattel & York, Attorneys at Law, at 877-572-4143. Our nursing home abuse attorneys serve Seattle, Tacoma, and all of Washington State. Our attorneys specialize in nursing home abuse and neglect and can help you protect the health and dignity of your loved one.