Common Nursing Home Injuries

If your elderly loved one has been harmed because of neglectful or abusive treatment by facility staff, our nursing home abuse lawyers at Belt, Bruner, & Barnett P.C. can help explain your family member’s legal rights and fight for the compensation and justice they deserve. Call us today at 205-933-1500.

Research has shown that the elderly persons are significantly more likely to become the victims of abuse or neglect at nursing homes or other long-term care facilities than those who live at home. Nursing home abuse or neglect can have devastating physical and emotional impacts on residents. Knowing the common types of injuries caused by nursing home abuse or neglect will help you protect your loved one’s rights.

Common Forms of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect

Unfortunately, nursing home abuse and neglect is incredibly common in the United States. In a 2010 study by the National Center on Elder Abuse, 50 percent of nursing home staff reported abuse or neglect of elderly residents within the past 12 months. Mistreatment in nursing homes includes neglect along with physical, emotional, sexual, or financial abuse.

Some of the most common forms of abuse in nursing home, assisted living, or long-term care settings include:

Common Types of Nursing Home Injuries

Nursing home residents often suffer from chronic health problems and are more vulnerable to injury than the general population. Sadly, a significant number of nursing home injuries every year are caused by abusive or neglectful treatment by facility staff members.

Physical abuse and neglect in long-term care facilities can lead to serious injuries, worsen existing medical conditions, and even result in premature death. In fact, a 2009 study revealed that older individuals who suffered from abuse had a 300 percent higher risk of death compared to those who had not been abused.

Common nursing home injuries include:

Common Safety Violations at Nursing Homes

Nursing homes, assisted living, and other long-term care facilities that receive Medicare and Medicaid payments are subject to annual mandatory inspections. Nursing home facilities can also be inspected when there is a complaint.

The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) oversees the inspection process and long-term care facilities are rated on a 5-star quality system. When inspectors identify violations (known as deficiencies) by nursing homes, they are ranked on a scale of A to L, based on the number, scope, and severity of the problems.

According to research by ProPublica, the regulations most commonly violated by nursing homes are:

Contact Our Experienced Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys for Help

If your loved one has been injured due to nursing home abuse or neglect, it is important to speak with an experienced Alabama personal injury lawyer right away to discuss your legal options. At Belt, Bruner, & Barnett P.C., we are dedicated to holding long-term care providers accountable for the injuries they cause.

We can help you file a nursing home lawsuit on behalf of your loved one and fight to obtain compensation for injuries and other losses caused by abuse and neglect. Our experienced legal team has more than 65 years of collective experience litigating personal injury claims and we will work to achieve the maximum compensation possible in your case. With offices in Birmingham, Mobile, Huntsville, and Montgomery, our attorneys will travel to virtually any location in the state. Call us today at 205-933-1500 to receive a free, no-risk consultation with one of our elder abuse lawyers.