San Diego Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

Every year, approximately 5 million instances of elder abuse are reported in the United States, many of which occur in nursing homes and senior living centers. The vulnerable nature of our elderly population places them at risk of being taken advantage of by organizations. Caretakers are generally trusted to provide compassionate and respectful care to seniors, but unfortunately, some betray this trust, perpetrating acts of neglect, financial exploitation, emotional abuse, and even physical harm.

If you or a loved one has been a victim of nursing home abuse, know that legal help is available. Conger Law offers no-cost consultations to help you understand the process. 

What is Nursing Home Abuse?

Nursing home abuse refers to various forms of mistreatment that may take place inside of a nursing home, retirement community, assisted living facility, or long-term care facility. An analysis of state data shows the number of complaints filed against San Diego County skilled nursing facilities held relatively steady from 2019 to 2022, with 2,738, 2,549, 2,622 and 2,640 in each year respectively. Abuse can take many forms, including:

• Physical abuse
• Emotional abuse
• Sexual abuse
• Neglect
• Inadequate medical care
• Improper medication administration
• Financial manipulation

Despite laws designed to safeguard the elderly, instances of abuse continue to occur due to factors like understaffing, insufficient training, caregiver burnout, and improper background checks. Nursing home abuse can be at the hands of an individual or an organization. For instance, an individual staff member may be directly responsible for harming a senior citizen, or institutional negligence could be a pervasive issue leading to widespread abuse.

Cases of nursing home abuse often involve investigating various parties, including:

• Caregivers
• Medical personnel
• Fellow residents
• Contracted service providers

How to Spot Nursing Home Abuse

Oftentimes, there are signs that nursing home abuse is taking place. Although the abuse often takes place behind closed doors, these indicators can help spot when something is wrong.

Physical Signs

• Unexplained injuries or bruising
• Sudden weight fluctuations
• Poor hygiene
• Unexpected changes in general health
  

Emotional Signs

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Fearfulness
• Sudden mood shifts around certain staff members
• Reluctance to interact with certain staff members
• Other uncharacteristic behaviors

Financial Signs

• Unexplained banking withdrawals or transactions
• Unusual changes in wills or testaments
• Missing valuables

Environmental Signs

• Unclean living spaces
• Inadequate nutrition
• Unsanitary conditions
• Areas restricted to visitors

If you believe you or a loved one has experienced nursing home abuse, there are steps you can take to seek compensation and help ensure the abuse doesn’t happen again.

What to Do After a Nursing Home Abuse Incident

Seek Medical Attention

If you or your loved one has been harmed in any way, make sure to receive medical care as soon as possible.

Document 

Maintain a record of any suspicious incident, individuals involved, and any other pertinent information. Document all medical evaluations and treatments.

Report Concerns

If you suspect abuse, you should report it to the nursing home administration and or any other appropriate organization.

Seek Legal Assistance

An attorney who specializes in elder abuse can help you explore legal options and pursue justice. 

Connect with a Top Nursing Home Abuse Attorney in San Diego

At Conger Law Injury Attorneys, our mission is to make the legal process as straightforward as possible. We provide free, no-obligation consultations to help you fully understand your rights. Contact us at (619)-569-1919 or complete our simple online form today. We’re ready to stand with you.

Citations

Issues for Advocates, Get the Facts on Elder Abuse
https://www.ncoa.org/article/get-the-facts-on-elder-abuse

Complaints persisted at San Diego County nursing homes during pandemic
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2023/05/06/complaints-persisted-at-san-diego-county-nursing-homes-during-pandemic/