Nursing Home Abuse

Serving Kentucky residents in striving to improve nursing home living conditions and seeking compensation for those injured as a result of nursing home abuse.

Our growing elderly population depends more and more on the institutional care for various reasons – both social and medical. Nursing home liability is regulated by federal and State laws, and nursing homes must follow these legal standards of nursing care that regulate the quality of patient care. Unfortunately, often times, these standards are breached, causing suffering and even death.

Nowadays, rarely there is a State with a yearly decline in abuse and neglect occurrences within the nursing homes. Gannet News Service has reported that out of the Nation’s 16,000 nursing facilities only 300 didn’t show up on the list of violators during state inspections over the last four years. It is now, probably, time to talk to your loved one if you suspect the nursing home you trust practices abuse and neglect. The top four complaints against nursing homes are: physical abuse, malnutrition, dehydration and verbal assault.

Common signs and symptoms of abuse:

• Infections
• Verbal Abuse
• Physical Abuse
• Falls
• Fractures
• Bruises
• Bed/Pressure Sores
• Chapped Lips
• Malnutrition/Loss of Weight
• Dehydration

Nursing homes may be understaffed and the staff that is employed is often poorly trained, overworked or unethical. Often times, these care givers are hired without proper criminal checks. Unfortunately, there is no system that is ideal, and for that reason staff with abusive or even criminal backgrounds is hired. These and other conditions of care result in the neglect and abuse of patients. The Federal Nursing Home Reform serves as a basis for standards in caregiving, when not followed, can serve as a basis for compensation.

Placing a loved one in a nursing home is always a tough decision. When making this decision one must realize that caring for an elder one is believing yourself, while placing a loved one in an assisted living facility is trusting the staff. Although the institutional care limits one’s lifestyle and privacy, you should still expect quality, compassionate, and dignified care from a nursing facility. Federal law sets the basic standards of care that must be followed when caring for patients; however, they are breached often (as proven by the statistical research). If you notice bruises, wounds, change in the disposition of your elderly loved one or notice a loss of weight, there may be abuse and neglect involved in caring for your family member.

When you suspect that your trust abused and your loved one has suddenly become a victim of neglect and abuse, there is no time to wait. Nursing Home abuse and neglect should be punished.

Mr. Poppe is specifically sensitive to the cases where your loved one has suffered emotionally and physically. He understands the emotional aspect that is involved in entrusting the welfare and safety of your elderly loved one to a nursing home. If the trust has been betrayed, The Poppe Law Firm^® can help you and your family seek fair compensation for the suffering of your loved one. We will employ our knowledge and practice in this complex type of cases and strive for your compensation and fair resolution. Mr. Poppe will do whatever it takes, including litigation to pursue justice. Do not wait and do not hesitate, call our office today.