Turlock Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers

Types of Nursing Home Abuse

There are several main categories of nursing home abuse. If your loved one has suffered due to abuse, consider contacting our Turlock nursing home abuse attorneys.

Emotional Abuse

This is the first kind of abuse that can take place in a nursing home. One might think of abuse as something like a bump or bruise, but emotional abuse is also abuse. Some kinds of psychological abuse involve:

• Yelling at a resident,
• Insulting a resident, 
• Patronizing the resident, or
• Intimidating or threatening the resident.

This list is not exhaustive, and you can potentially file suit for other types of emotional abuse as well. 

Physical Abuse

It is also possible for a nursing home resident to be the victim of physical abuse. Physical abuse can include:

• Slapping,
• Pushing,
• Hitting,
• Kicking, or
• Burning.

Physical abuse is anything that causes pain, injury, or even death to a nursing home resident.

Financial Abuse

Financial abuse can also happen in the nursing home setting. It refers to when someone compromises a nursing home resident’s funds, assets, or belongings. 

Sexual Abuse

In a nursing home, sexual abuse can also occur. Sexual abuse refers to any sexual contact that the resident has not consented to. This can mean sexual assault or unwanted touching. Sexual harassment is also possible without any contact involved. 

Abandonment

Nursing home abandonment has taken place when two distinct conditions are both met:

• The nurse agreed to be assigned to a patient and established a relationship, and
• The nurse cut off the relationship with the patient without reasonable notice to allow someone else to take over the care.

The above is patient abandonment and nursing home abuse. If you suspect this has been the case for your loved one, contact the lawyers at Silva Injury Law today.

Signs of Nursing Home Abuse

There are various signs of nursing home abuse depending on whether one or more types have occurred. 

Signs of Emotional Abuse

Some signals of emotional abuse include:

• Behaviors including rocking or biting,
• Withdrawal and depression, 
• Insomnia or trouble sleeping, and
• Complaints of mistreatment.

Contact our experienced lawyers for further information.

Signs of Physical Abuse

Some common indications of physical abuse may involve:

• Fractures or head injuries;
• Injuries requiring emergency treatment;
• Anything resulting in broken bones;
• Unexplained bruises, welts, or cuts;
• The unexpected death of the elder; or
• Frequent illnesses that caregivers don’t report.

Any other injury or sign of an injury may point to physical abuse. 

Signs of Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse may have occurred if you notice these signs:

• Difficulty walking,
• Sudden changes in mood,
• Unexplained STDs, or
• Torn or stained clothing.

Other signs of nursing home abuse can be more challenging to see. If you have suspicions of nursing home abuse, our Turlock nursing home abuse lawyers can help you and provide you with additional information.

Nursing Home Neglect

Neglect overlaps with abuse, but a caregiver who neglects a resident does not always have the intent to harm them. Neglect is a failure to assist nursing home residents with the essentials of their care. 

You may be able to file a lawsuit for nursing home negligence if your loved one has suffered as a result of neglect. If you believe a caregiver has neglected your loved one, it is critical that you discuss your circumstances with our Turlock nursing home abuse attorneys. We can assist you in filing your claim for your family member.

Elder Abuse and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act

In California, the Elder Abuse and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act protects nursing home neglect or abuse victims. Neglect is defined as the failure of anyone who must care for an elder to exercise the type of care another reasonable person would.

Contact our attorneys for more information on how we can help you recover compensation.

Neglect of Basic Needs

Neglecting a resident’s basic needs is when a caretaker does not provide an elder with the essentials. If a caretaker is not providing food, clothing, or shelter to the elder, that would constitute neglect. Not giving food might include not providing enough help to an elder who needs assistance to eat. It could also involve nursing home staff not properly bathing an elder.

Other neglectful actions by caregivers might include:

• Not changing incontinent residents, 
• Turning call lights off, 
• Not keeping residents hydrated,
• Not giving them dental care, and
• Not providing needed wound care.

Reach out to one of our attorneys if a caregiver has neglected your family member in a nursing home.

How to Report Abuse

If your loved one is in imminent danger of harm and you believe they are suffering abuse or neglect, you should report it immediately. 

In California, one option is contacting Adult Protective Services (APS). These services are available to elders over 60 or dependent adults whom a caretaker has neglected or abused. There is an APS agency in every county. 

You can also contact long-term care ombudsman representatives in California. These representatives investigate reports of neglect or abuse in long-term care facilities. Every long-term care facility resident can receive these services free of charge, no matter their age. 

If someone you know is in severe danger, call 911.

How We Can Help You

Turlock Nursing Home Abuse Attorney, Michael Silva

If your family member or loved one has been the victim of nursing home abuse or neglect, don’t wait to take action. Our lawyer Michael Joe Silva has multiple years of experience as a deputy district attorney for the Merced County District Attorney’s Office. The attorneys at Silva Injury Law are compassionate and strive to attain the best results possible for every client. Contact us today.

Our experienced legal team also handles other types of injury cases, including:

• Car Accident
• Dog Bite
• Slip and Fall
• Sexual Assault
• Truck Accident
• Motorcycle Accident
• Wrongful Death
• Pedestrian Accident
• Drunk Driving Accident
• Distracted Driving Accident
• Bicycle Accident

Silva Injury Law – Turlock Office

2130 Geer Road A
Turlock, CA 95382
P: (209) 600-4389