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Any involvement with the court system can be scary and stressful. Attorney Anthony Carbone has practiced in the Hudson County courts for over 20 years. He fights for your rights and guides you through the process. Read His Profile

 

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

Jersey City & Newark, New Jersey

When you make the difficult decision to move a family member into a nursing home, you should be able to trust that the facility will provide compassionate, attentive care. Unfortunately, nursing home abuse and neglect can occur at even the most respected facilities with otherwise spotless track records.

According to recent data from the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA), nearly 2 million elderly Americans live in some 17,000 nursing homes. With an aging population that is both living longer and growing in numbers, instances of nursing home abuse and neglect are expected to rise as well.

If you believe a loved one is suffering from nursing home abuse or neglect in the Jersey City or Newark areas, you should contact local authorities and the state’s Division of Aging and Community Services immediately. You should also get in touch with experienced New Jersey nursing home abuse lawyer Anthony Carbone, who can guide you through the complex legal process.

What is Nursing Home Abuse?

Legal cases against nursing homes typically fall under the categories of:

  • Abuse, which entails the intentional infliction of harm (such as physical assault or the willful deprivation of food, drink and medication)
  • Neglect, which is distinguished from abuse by lack of intent (this may include failure to prevent conditions such as bed sores or not properly monitoring patients with special needs)
  • Medical malpractice, in which doctors or health care providers cause personal injury or wrongful death due to a negligent medical error (such as prescribing incorrect medication or improperly diagnosing a condition)
  • Theft or financial exploitation (this can include identity theft, stealing personal possessions or cashing unauthorized checks)

The negligent behavior itself can take many forms, from mental cruelty to physical abuse to financial manipulation. Some common types of nursing home abuse and neglect are:

  • Failure to prevent dehydration or malnutrition
  • Lack of adequate care for existing medical conditions
  • Lack of assistance in maintaining personal hygiene
  • Failure to provide sanitary living conditions
  • Sexual assault
  • Assault and battery
  • Unlawful imprisonment or restraint
  • Verbal and emotional abuse
  • Deceit to gain access to finances
  • Slip and fall injuries caused by nursing home negligence

As of 2003, it was estimated that between 1 and 2 million Americans age 65 or older had been injured, exploited or mistreated by a caregiver, according to a federal report cited by the NCEA. Accurate figures on nursing home abuse, however, are difficult to maintain because many instances go undocumented.

Signs of Nursing Home Abuse

Many nursing home residents are unable or unwilling to report nursing home abuse and neglect. If you have a loved one in a nursing home or assisted-living facility, it’s important to watch for signs of abuse and neglect including:

  • Unexplained injuries such as cuts or bruises
  • Inadequate medical attention, including poor wound dressings or improper dispensing of medication
  • Lack of adequate food and drink
  • Unusual behavior
  • Bed sores or infections
  • Unsanitary conditions
  • Changes in physical appearance, such as sudden weight loss

If your family member complains of abuse or neglect, or if you see symptoms of nursing home abuse and neglect, you should contact New Jersey nursing home abuse lawyer Anthony Carbone as soon as possible.

Causes of Nursing Home Abuse

There is no acceptable explanation for nursing home abuse and neglect, but there are a number of conditions that contribute to its sad reality. Causes of nursing home abuse and neglect include:

  • Staff shortages
  • Inadequately trained staff
  • Negligent hiring practices
  • Unsafe premises or inadequately maintained facilities (such as loose handrails or unclean conditions)

For the safety of your family member and others in a nursing home or assisted-living facility, you should act quickly if you suspect abuse or neglect.

If you believe a loved one is suffering from nursing home abuse or neglect in the Jersey City or Newark, New Jersey, areas please contact the Law Offices of Anthony Carbone, P.C.t