Identifying Nursing Home Abuse
Seniors and those with special needs depend on dedicated and compassionate caretakers for their livelihood. Should someone you care for be subjected to nursing home neglect, physical abuse, or other mistreatment, the lawyers at Cochran Douglas in Tacoma can help you recover damages and achieve justice.
Nursing home abuse is a type of personal injury that can take many forms. It's important to recognize the signs of neglect and other harm nursing home residents may face. If you know someone who has experienced the following forms of exploitation or mistreatment, reach out to our Tacoma nursing home abuse attorneys.
Watch Out For These Signs
Neglect
If the person you care for is being ignored or is provided inadequate supervision, they are likely a victim of nursing home neglect. This can include wearing dirty clothes, poor hygiene, bedsores, weight loss, untreated injuries, and unclean living quarters. Residents in nursing homes should have their basic needs met in order to maintain a good quality of life.
Medical Malpractice
It's common for nursing home residents to have to take medication for their health. Some people may have health conditions that require accommodations like walkers or oxygen masks. Nursing home companies and their staff who don't give residents their medication in the proper increments or correct doses, or fail to provide equipment that helps with physical limitations, can be held liable.
Physical Abuse
If a caretaker hits, shakes, or restrains your loved one for a reason not related to their care, it may be considered physical abuse. If you notice bruises, injuries, depression, or a dramatic change in mood from your loved one, these can be signs that they're experiencing physical abuse. Signs of this type of personal injury can include bruises, scrapes, bandages, cuts, open wounds, and bed sores.
Emotional Abuse
If a caregiver uses intimidating tones and words, threats, insults, and demeaning language, our nursing home abuse attorneys can pursue damages for emotional abuse. Emotional abuse may not be as clear to see as physical injuries, but it can be just as damaging. Symptoms like depression, general disinterest, emotional distancing, and a refusal to speak or be social may be signs that a nursing home resident is suffering emotional abuse.
Financial Abuse
Financial abuse is an insidious form of elder abuse that may not be immediately detectable since there are no obvious physical or behavioral signs. In some cases, it can be straightforward theft like stealing cash or a credit card. In more complex situations, financial abuse of a nursing home resident can take the form of identity theft, forgery, or even forcing an elder to change their will. Our attorneys can identify financial abuse through a careful evaluation of all of your elder's accounts.
Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse of an elder can be so horrifying to imagine that some family members may miss signs that should indicate it. There are various forms of sexual abuse against a nursing home resident, such as the taking of sexual photographs, coercing them into committing sexual acts, or performing sexual acts in front of them. Bruises around the inner thighs, sudden genital infections or sexually transmitted diseases, and a new difficulty with motor skills can all be signs of sexual abuse.
Recognize These Signs? Reach Out to Us Now
Our Tacoma-based personal injury lawyers are extremely well-versed in recognizing signs of nursing home neglect and all relevant nursing home laws. If you suspect that a person you care about is the victim of mistreatment, contact our nursing home abuse lawyers for a free consultation today. Call (253) 472-7777 to get started.
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"I would like to highly recommend Cochran Douglas Law for your personal injury needs. The attorneys are professional yet personable.I know they take the time necessary to consider your individual circumstance and will work their hardest on your behalf. They are honest and you can be sure their legal experience is exactly what you need when you are at your most vulnerable." Virginia D. Tacoma, WA
What to Do If You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse
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Michael Heathcote
Tacoma, WA
2023
I just wrapped up my case with Cochran Douglas representing me and I am grateful they were the ones to do so... I was happy with he outcome of their work and will be sure to use them in the future and recommend them with full confidence. Thanks again to the whole team for all of your efforts!
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Tacoma, WA
2023
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View on GoogleDon't Wait Too Long
Washington state has a three-year limit on filing a personal injury lawsuit.
Three years may seem like a long time, but the more time that passes, the harder it can be to retain accurate and compelling evidence. If you contact us as soon as possible after you discover any signs of nursing home abuse, our attorneys can start building your case right away.
"This is a first-class law firm." Great Reviews From Tacoma
Daron Buxton
Tacoma, WA
2023
This is a first-class law firm. They went above and beyond to settle my case, and greatly exceeded my expectations. They are genuine, kind, and compassionate. Cochran Douglas has an amazing staff that will keep you informed through the process and work to ease the anxiety surrounding your case. These are the people you want on your side!
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Tacoma, WA
2023
I had a fantastic experience working with Cole and his whole team. Competent, compassionate, communicative. They took great care of me and handled my case better than I could have expected. Thank you!
View on GoogleWe Can Help Your Loved One Get Out of an Abusive Situation
If you're seeing unexplained injuries and a complete change in behavior from someone you care about who lives in a nursing home, they can be signs of abuse. These situations can be difficult to navigate if your loved one and the nursing home staff deny any abusive activity.
It costs you nothing to take advantage of our free consultations. If the person you care about is a victim of nursing home abuse, our lawyers will do all we can to expose the staff and administrators who are mistreating vulnerable adults. Meanwhile, we will pursue the maximum restitution so you and your family can get the care you need to overcome this grave mistreatment.
Attorneys Cole Douglas and Loren Cochran work on a contingency basis when it comes to personal injury, which means you don't pay a dime unless we achieve a settlement or jury award on your behalf. Request a consultation online today or contact us by phone.
Call: (253) 472-7777
Losses That Justify Compensation
Contact our Tacoma law office so our nursing home abuse lawyers can seek compensation in these categories and more:
A nursing home resident who is injured due to abusive staff can recoup compensation for medical bills, doctor visits, medication, ongoing rehabilitation, and projected medical expenses.
If the person you care about was financially exploited, you can pursue damages for monetary losses that were caused by nursing home staff.
Dealing with emotional abuse can take a serious toll on your family member's quality of life. Nursing home abusers can be forced to pay restitution for the mental anguish they have caused.
Washington Law Sets Strict Staffing Requirements
Much of the elder abuse described thus far refers to individual actions taken by negligent or malicious nursing home staff. Nursing home resident abuse can also stem from the administration's failure to hire adequate, quality staff.
Insufficient nursing home staff is a common problem nationwide that often leads employees to be overworked, causing them to fail in their basic duty of care to each resident. According to Washington law RCW 74.42.360, every nursing home in the state must have sufficient staff that carries out a minimum of 3.4 hours of direct care for each resident on a daily basis.
There are many other requirements that, if not met, can be grounds for a negligence-based lawsuit. For example, the same law mandates that certain staff members must have a relevant degree, at least three years of care experience, and have completed certain curricula to qualify as direct care workers.
Residents on Medicaid Are Entitled to Quality Care
Some nursing home administrators will reject or discriminate against Medicaid recipients because they do not receive as much payment from Medicaid as they would from residents who pay out-of-pocket or through Medicare. Washington law RCW 74.42.055 makes clear that any discrimination against a resident based on their being a Medicaid recipient by a nursing home that has contracted with the government is strictly prohibited.
For example, no nursing home that has contracted with the government can delay admission because a potential resident is a Medicaid recipient.
If your loved one was discriminated against or refused services due to being a Medicaid recipient, and this led to quantifiable damages stemming from missed medical diagnosis, emotional abuse, or other forms of neglect, our Tacoma nursing home abuse lawyers can sue the nursing home on your loved one's behalf.
What To Do in Cases of Wrongful Death
Depending on the health of the person you care for, the nature of the abuse, and other factors, elder abuse or nursing home neglect can be deadly. You have the sympathy of our attorneys if you lost someone to nursing home abuse, and they are prepared to take action on your behalf.
No settlement or verdict can bring back the people you care about, but a successful wrongful death case can provide the resources you need to ease burdens like funeral expenses, loss of companionship, and emotional loss. Our nursing home abuse lawyers will hold caregivers responsible for a wrongful death they have caused and pursue maximum restitution that can allow your family to heal.
Like personal injury cases in Washington, wrongful death cases have a three-year period in which to file a claim. We recommend contacting our attorneys as soon as you can so we can build a strong case for meaningful compensation.
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Tacoma, WA
2023
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Tacoma, WA
2023
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