Morgantown Nursing Home Negligence

Nursing homes and other such facilities provide our loved ones with care at a time when they can no longer care for themselves. Unfortunately, our nation’s elderly and disabled are vulnerable to abuse. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, half a million people over the age of 60 endure abuse or neglect each year. Unfortunately, many victims of elder abuse don’t report it – whether for fear of retaliation or simply inability to explain it. If you suspect your loved one has been a victim of nursing home negligence or abuse, it’s important to understand your legal options and when to contact an attorney.

What Is Elder Abuse?

According to the CDC, there are several forms of elder abuse:

• Emotional abuse
• Sexual abuse
• Physical abuse
• Neglect
• Abandonment
• Financial Abuse

Neglect is one of the most common forms of negligence in a nursing home setting. This can be difficult to prove since there are many forms of neglect that can occur, and symptoms are not easy to spot. One warning sign of neglect in nursing homes is the presence of bedsores. When nursing home staff fail to regularly turn incapacitated patients, these painful ulcers can develop from lack of blood flow.

Neglect is any failure by a caregiver to fulfill their obligations to provide adequate care. Nursing home residents may experience neglect when staff fails to meet their standard dietary, hygiene, or shelter care. When neglect leads to physical harm, it rises to the level of abuse.

Determining Liability in Cases of Abuse or Neglect

If you suspect your loved one is experiencing inadequate treatment, neglect, or abuse in a nursing home setting, the facility may be liable under several grounds. Some of the most common reasons for negligence include:

• Lack of appropriate staff. When nursing home administrators understaff the residence, the remaining staff may be unable to properly attend to the needs of their residents
• Negligent hiring. Failing to complete reference checks or background checks that would reveal negative information about an employee could be grounds for negligence.
• Inadequate training. Nursing homes must train their staff to provide adequate care to every resident, which requires ongoing education.
• Medication errors. As one of the leading causes of medical malpractice, a nursing home may be liable for dispensing the wrong medication or the wrong dose.

A nursing home facility can be liable for the negligent acts of its employees. If you suspect a loved one is experiencing neglect or abuse, it’s important to contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible.

What You Can Do

If you notice symptoms of neglect or abuse, remove your loved one from the nursing home situation immediately and contact Adult Protective Services to file a report. Next, contact the personal injury attorneys at the Manchin Injury Law Group, PLLC. We fiercely advocate for victims of abuse and neglect and fight to get your family the compensation you deserve. We have been helping residents of Morgantown for nearly 40 years. Schedule a free initial consultation with our firm and let us provide a free and confidential review of your legal options.