Many families across North Carolina rely on long-term care facilities to ensure their elderly or disabled loved ones receive the care, assistance, and attention they need when they can no longer be properly cared for at home. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for abuse and neglect to occur in these facilities and when it does, you have the right to seek compensation on your loved ones’ behalf. If you witness or suspect abuse or neglect from an assisted living facility, schedule a consultation with Harry H. Albritton, a leading nursing home abuse lawyer in Morehead City, to discuss your case and begin the process of seeking damages.
Understanding Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
Nursing home abuse is intentionally causing harm to a resident of a nursing home, while neglect is failing to provide proper care at the level which the resident needs.
- Physical abuse: Hitting, pushing, or kicking;
- Mental abuse: Name-calling, embarrassment, withholding mail or belongings, yelling or swearing at the resident;
- Sexual abuse: Non-consensual sexual contact or exposure to sexual activity. Often, nursing home residents can’t give proper consent.
- Exploitation: Stealing assets or property or using coercion to receive assets or property;
- Neglect: Failing to provide proper care, including hygiene, medical needs, food, and clothing; This may occur due to poor training of the staff but the facility is still liable.
If you see, hear, or suspect anything that falls into one of these categories, make sure to document this immediately, report it to the North Carolina Board of Nursing Home Abuse as well as consult with a nursing home abuse lawyer on behalf of your loved one.
Signs of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
Often, there are no witnesses to see the abuse occur and the victim is incapable of communicating what happened. That’s why it’s important to know the signs and report your concerns.
- Changes in personality, including withdrawal, depression, and anxiety;
- Isolation
- Bruises, cuts, or burns with no explanation
- Poor hygiene
- Irregular financial transactions
- Missing or errors with medication
- Rapid decline in cognitive, communication, or daily living skills.
How a Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Can Help You
While it’s important to contact NCBENHA with complaints, it’s also important to contact a nursing home abuse lawyer to discuss your concerns. Too often, state agencies are overwhelmed and there may be delays in investigating claims. During these delays, evidence can be lost or hidden, and continued abuse may occur. Attorney Harry H. Albritton and our legal team at Irons & Irons P.A. will help you better understand your loved one’s rights and can launch an immediate investigation into your concerns, speaking to experts and witnesses, and building a case against those responsible.
Attorney Harry H. Albritton is an experienced, dedicated nursing home abuse attorney who has a track record of favorable outcomes for his clients. Whether the abuse or neglect is systemic throughout the facility or it is one individual, the facility is responsible due to laws about negligent hiring and liability. Thus, he will work to hold the nursing home responsible for their negligent hiring and ensure this doesn’t happen to another family.
Rights of Nursing Home Residents
Residents in long-term care facilities have federally protected rights, including the right to:
- Having their level of independence respected, as well as their privacy and property;
- Freedom from discrimination based on age, sex, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, and disability;
- Not have chemical restraints (sedation) or physical restraints used as a punishment or disciplinary action;
- Receive appropriate care, including ensuring proper food, medical treatment, hygiene, and shelter;
- Have and maintain contact with family, visitors, and medical professionals;
- Have access to social services.
Schedule a Consultation with a Nursing Home Abuse Attorney in Morehead City, NC
We believe in holding those who abuse or neglect the elderly and disabled accountable and strive to get the justice and fair compensation our clients deserve. To learn more or to schedule a consultation with Attorney Albritton, reach out to us today at 252-585-5150 or fill out the contact form below.