Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer in Fort Lauderdale

While these signs may not always be indicative of nursing home abuse or neglect, if you observe any of them in your elderly loved ones, be sure to investigate further into the cause, as it could be potential abuse:

• Bed sores
• Mysterious and recurring bruises
• Dehydration or malnutrition
• Consistently poor hygiene
• Extreme fear or anxiety
• Unexplained infections
• Unexplained injuries

Other Types of Elder Abuse

Elder abuse doesn’t just happen in nursing homes. It can also happen in the senior’s own home, and trusted family members, friends, or caregivers can be the perpetrators. Domestic elder abuse isn’t limited to simple physical abuse and neglect, and it can be difficult for family members and friends to spot it. Be on the look out for the following forms of elder abuse identified by the National Center on Elder Abuse:

Physical: This includes the intentional or negligent infliction of harm or injury to a senior. Some signs include:

• Bruising;
• Broken bones;
• Overmedication;
• Infections;
• Use of excessive restraints; or
• Cuts.

Emotional: This is the intentional infliction of fear, degradation or anguish to an elderly person. Signs of emotional abuse or neglect may include:

• Withdrawal;
• Unusual behavior such as sucking, rocking, or biting;
• Depression or development of other psychiatric disorders;
• Low self-esteem; or
• Unexplained confusion or fear.

Financial: This occurs when a caretaker uses the money or assets of an elder for their own personal use. Examples of financial abuse may include:

• Forged signatures on important documents or checks;
• Unexplained loss of valuable possessions;
• Unexplained or frequent withdrawals from a bank account;
• The appearance of new names on the resident’s bank card; or
• Sudden changes to the resident’s wills, deeds, or trusts.

Although no amount of money can erase the physical harm and emotional damage done to your loved one and family, our attorneys will fight to get justice and hold the nursing home or individual responsible for their abusive conduct. As your nursing home abuse attorney works to bolster your case, he or she may:

• Work with medical experts to determine the exact cause and extent of your loved one’s injuries;
• Ensure the nursing home does not attempt to block access to relevant information;
• Gather photographic evidence
• Review security videotape from the time of the abuse;
• Review business records to determine the nursing home’s hiring practices;
• Interview other employees and residents of the nursing home;
• Interview witnesses to the abuse, if possible; and
• Determine the cost of non-economic damages from the abuse, such as pain and suffering or mental anguish.

Our attorneys want to help restore normalcy to your elderly loved one’s life. If you suspect that your loved one is being abused by a nursing home or caregiver, fill out our free, no-risk case evaluation form today to learn what our attorneys in Fort Lauderdale can do for your family.