Oakland Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
Nursing home abuse is something that no family wants to contemplate. Abusing, neglecting or exploiting an elderly individual is a grotesque crime that demonstrates an extreme disregard for the welfare of a vulnerable population. At Milanfar Law Firm, PC, our California trial attorneys are passionate about bringing those who mistreat the elderly to justice. We can represent you and your family in a civil lawsuit brought against a nursing home in Oakland for elder abuse or nursing home neglect.
Why Choose Us?
- We have the knowledge and skill to go up against any defendant, big or small.
- Our lawyers have years of experience handling nursing home abuse and neglect cases.
- We have achieved many positive settlements and verdicts for past clients.
- We use a personalized approach to personal injury law, customizing each client’s legal strategy.
- Our trial lawyers are not afraid to go to court in pursuit of maximum compensation, if necessary.
What Is Nursing Home Abuse? What Does it Look Like?
Nursing home abuse refers to an employee at a nursing home – such as a caregiver, nurse or administrator – causing harm to a resident through willful, wanton or malicious acts of violence. Nursing home abuse occurs more often than most people realize but is widely unreported. There are many types of nursing home abuse:
- Physical abuse. Intentionally causing physical harm to a resident (e.g., punching, kicking, slapping, burning, etc.).
- Emotional or psychological abuse. Inflicting mental or emotional trauma on a resident through verbal harassment, isolation, restraints or other means.
- Sexual abuse. Sexually assaulting or raping a nursing home resident. Any sexual relationship between an employee and a resident is unethical.
- Financial exploitation. Taking advantage of a nursing home resident for financial gain, such as a fraud scheme or robbery, is considered financial abuse.
- Neglect. Failing to take proper care of a nursing home resident, such as failing to provide food, water, medical care or basic hygiene.
Nursing home abuse can have detrimental effects on a resident. A victim may suffer serious injuries, such as broken bones, hip fractures and traumatic brain injuries that put him or her at risk of death. Infections, illnesses and bedsores are also common in neglected nursing home residents. Daily suffering due to nursing home abuse can also impact a victim’s mental health and quality of life – increasing mortality rates.
Signs Of Nursing Home Abuse
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (NCPEA), elder abuse or neglect is challenging to detect due to the similarity of some signs to self-neglect. Another issue arises in nursing homes where residents often lack the mental or physical capacity to seek help or protect themselves, making them vulnerable and frail.
There are several indicators that elder abuse may be taking place such as:
- Cigarette burns or other types of burns
- Marks possibly caused by aggressive restraint with ropes or straps
- Unusual hair or tooth loss
- Broken bones
- Dislocated joints, sprains, bruises, bite marks
- A delay between when the injury occurred and when the patient seeks medical attention
- A sudden shift in behavior from your loved one
What Are the Rights of a Nursing Home Abuse Victim in Oakland?
In California, a senior citizen who has been subjected to nursing home abuse or neglect has the right to file a civil lawsuit in pursuit of justice and financial compensation. Most of these cases are brought against the nursing home facility itself, either for the criminal acts of one of its employees or the establishment’s failure to protect its residents.
Nursing homes have a responsibility to reasonably ensure residents’ safety and well-being, as well as to maintain or enhance their quality of life. If a nursing home falls short of this obligation, such as by failing to conduct background checks on new workers, ignoring complaints or understaffing the facility, it can be held liable for a case of elder abuse.
Proving a nursing home abuse case requires clear and convincing evidence that the victim more likely than not sustained his or her injuries due to negligent, abusive or criminal acts committed by the defendant. Evidence to support this type of lawsuit may include medical records, eyewitness statements, video surveillance footage, photographs and expert testimony.
Contact an Oakland Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Today
No one should ever suffer the torment of abuse or neglect at a nursing home in what should be the golden years of life. The lawyers at Milanfar Law Firm, PC, are dedicated to shedding light on nursing home abuse and mistreatment in the Oakland community. We can represent you and your family in a case against a long-term care facility in Oakland that harmed your loved one. If you suspect nursing home abuse, neglect or mistreatment, don’t hesitate to contact us for a free consultation from a nursing home abuse attorney. Call (925) 433-6003 today to get started.