You admitted your loved one into a nursing home, trusting that the staff would provide competent, professional, thoughtful care. Your trust was shattered when you discovered that the home allowed abuse to occur. It’s heartbreaking and unforgivable, but you can take action.
Nursing home abuse and neglect can occur for many reasons, but it is never acceptable. Our nursing home abuse lawyers in Riverside can help you find out what happened and hold the perpetrators civilly responsible for their despicable acts.
Our legal team at Omega Law Group Accident & Injury Attorneys has decades of combined experience, standing up for the rights of injured victims and their families. Call today for your free consultation and learn how our Riverside personal injury lawyers can help.
Contact Our Legal Team
If you believe abuse is happening in a nursing home, speak up. Our nursing home abuse attorneys in Riverside can help protect your rights, ensure your actions are legally sound, and seek justice for your loved one.
Those who abuse nursing home residents in California will face serious criminal and professional consequences. Through civil actions, our legal team can also hold them accountable for the hardships suffered by your loved one and your family. We can:
- Investigate the circumstances of the abuse
- Identify all responsible parties who played a role
- File a civil lawsuit seeking maximum compensation
- Negotiate for a settlement
- Represent your loved one and family in court
Recognize Nursing Home Abuse
If you know abuse has occurred in a nursing home and your loved one is a victim, report the abuse and reach out to our team as soon as possible. But sometimes people aren’t sure if their concerns rise to the level of abuse or neglect.
You may worry you are overreacting, or that people will get in trouble if you are wrong. However, nursing home abuse extends beyond what many people typically consider abusive behavior. Types of nursing home abuse and signs to watch for include:
- Physical Abuse: Intentional harm causing pain or injury. Signs include visible injuries such as bruises, cuts, and burns, as well as a fear of staff.
- Psychological Abuse: Verbal or emotional mistreatment causing fear, anxiety, or distress. Watch for signs such as withdrawal, fearfulness, or sudden mood changes.
- Isolation: Restricting social interaction or communication, leaving residents alone. Signs include withdrawal, depression, and being confined to a room.
- Neglect: Failure to provide necessary care for health and safety. Look for signs like malnutrition, dehydration, poor hygiene, and soiled clothing.
- Sexual Abuse: Non-consensual sexual contact or exploitation, exhibited by bruising, bleeding, discomfort, fear around certain individuals, and withdrawal.
- Financial Exploitation: The illegal or improper use of a resident’s money or property. Evidence can include sudden account changes, missing belongings, and unexplained withdrawals.
(310) 526-8383How to Report Nursing Home Abuse
If you witness abuse, tell the nearest staff member. If necessary, call 911 to dispatch emergency personnel. Documenting what you saw can help authorities and our attorneys make a case against the abusers.
Do not rely on the facility alone to investigate the incident. You have several official avenues for reporting nursing home abuse in California. Our Riverside nursing home abuse lawyers can help you understand how to handle each type of report.
The Nursing Home Administrator
Nursing home administrators are mandated reporters in California, meaning they must report any concerns of abuse. The administrator may also conduct an internal investigation to audit the home’s compliance with best practices.
California Department of Health
You can file a complaint with the California Department of Public Health. This is the entity that oversees nursing home licensing in California. They will investigate your complaint and, if they find just cause, take action against the facility or its staff.
Ombudsman
Your county’s long-term care ombudsman is a trained advocate for residents’ rights. They can be a source of support and can even look into your concerns. If they believe abuse is happening, they will report it to the proper authorities.
If investigations confirm abuse has occurred, the perpetrators will face serious legal charges and penalties that can include jail time and extensive fines. Staff can lose their jobs and their licenses. The home itself will face state-imposed fines and sanctions on its license.
Get Help From Our Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys in Riverside
Take action when you have an abuse-related grievance in a nursing home. If you are wrong, you can put your mind at ease, knowing your loved one is safe. But if you are right, you will have protected your loved one and potentially other residents at the facility.
You don’t have to deal with it alone. Our nursing home abuse attorneys in Riverside will stand by you, offer our best advice, and help you recover compensation for the harm your loved one and your family have suffered. We will hold the abusers accountable.
At Omega Law Group, we put our clients first, always. For nearly a decade, our personal injury lawyers have advocated for those who can’t fight for themselves. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation and tell us about your nursing home abuse concerns.
