Nursing Home Neglect & Abuse Attorney in Shreveport

Have you or a loved one suffered abuse, intentional or not, in a Shreveport nursing home? Nursing homes have a solemn duty to care for their aging and infirm patients, and when an employee’s indifference, oversight, or intentional actions harm a resident, they and their family may be entitled to financial compensation.

If you suspect your loved one of having suffered nursing home abuse, call Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys for a free consultation with an experienced Shreveport nursing home abuse attorney. We’ve been helping Louisiana families collect the compensation they’re owed for nursing home abuse and other types of personal injuries for more than 30 years.

Types of Elder Abuse

From discrete transgressions to overt acts, elder abuse can take many different forms. However, there are seven behaviors that are most common in nursing homes, according to the National Center for Elder Abuse (NCEA). While these behaviors range from physical abuse to mental abuse and beyond, they all cause harm to patients and families.

• Physical abuse, such as kicking, rough restraining, shoving, pushing, or punching
• Psychological or emotional abuse, such as isolating the patient, threatening to control them, or insulting or bullying them
• Medical malpractice, including improper medication administration or failure to administer medications
• Abandonment, or leaving residents unsupervised for long periods
• Sexual abuse
• Financial exploitation, including withdrawing funds without authorization, theft, forging signatures, or changing beneficiaries

Common Injuries from Nursing Home and Assisted Living Abuse

While the term nursing home abuse covers the above injuries, the broader nursing home neglect classification describes other injuries as well. For example, neglect can include the failure of staff to report injuries, to accommodate residents’ needs, or to listen to residents’ concerns or complaints.

If your loved one is being abused or neglected in their nursing home, they could suffer any of the following injuries:

• Dehydration
• Malnutrition
• Pressure sores and bedsores
• Slip and fall injuries

Luckily, most nursing homes treat their residents with the care and respect they deserve, in a safe environment with exemplary care. However, badly-trained staff, poor communication, mismanagement, and negligence can lead to injuries and even wrongful death.

Know the Signs of Elder Abuse

Whenever you visit your loved ones in the nursing home, be on the lookout for the signs of elder abuse. While the responsibility for residents’ safety and quality of life lies squarely on the nursing home and its staff, early detection and intervention can save your loved one’s life.

The key to preventing abuse, or stopping it as early as possible, is to stay alert and observant of the resident’s living conditions, mental state, and physical health. The following signs could be indicators that they’re being abused:

• The resident develops a sudden, drastic change in mood or behaviors, especially depression, anxiety, or irritability
• Errors in care or signs of neglect, including an unkempt living space, unlivable, unsanitary conditions, or unreported injuries
• Accidental or unexplained injuries, like bed sores or bruises
• An injury requiring medical attention
• Medical bills for injuries the resident sustained while in the nursing home’s care, especially if the nursing home failed to report them to you

No one should have to worry about their elderly loved ones’ health when they live at an assisted living facility or nursing home. One of the main reasons you’ve placed your loved one in a home is so that they can receive the 24-hour care you’re unable to provide.

If you notice signs of abuse or neglect in your loved one, seek legal support from a Shreveport nursing home injury attorney immediately. We can help you gather evidence and build a case against the nursing home, its staff, or other liable parties.

Louisiana Nursing Home Injury Laws

Louisiana’s nursing home abuse laws are designed to protect elderly victims from abuse, as well as compensate them for the emotional and physical trauma they’ve endured while the neglect took place. It’s crucial to understand the law in order to receive the best help possible for your loved one if you think they’re being abused.

Reporting Requirements for Elder Abuse

The Abuse and Neglect of Adults Act states that failure to properly care for nursing home residents, or failure to report abuse, is punishable as a misdemeanor. The guilty party may be fined up to $500 and face up to six months of jail time which applies to family, visitors, and nursing home staff.

If you suspect your loved one or another resident at their nursing home, is being abused or neglected, report your concerns to Elderly Protective Service as soon as possible.

Filing a Negligence Claim in Civil Court

If your loved one suffered injuries or other damages due to the nursing home’s negligence, they could also be eligible for personal injury damages in Louisiana. After discovering the abuse, you’ll have one year from that date to file a negligence claim.

Louisiana’s short statute of limitations doesn’t provide much time for victims of abuse to seek remuneration for the damages they suffered at the hands of others. That’s why it’s vital to call an experienced nursing home neglect injury lawyer with Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys as soon as possible, so we can get started investigating your case.

How Gordon McKernan Can Help

When you hire a nursing home injury lawyer with Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys, you have a passionate advocate that will fight for you and your family’s rights. We can help you hold nursing homes accountable for any type of abuse they’ve committed, and we’ll talk with witnesses, medical and financial experts, and others to get a full picture of the damages your loved one suffered.

Give us a call today at 318.888.8888 for a free legal consultation about your case. A dedicated lawyer will listen to your situation, provide advice, and get started on your case right away.