Mission Viejo Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers

Consulting a Bisnar Chase Mission Viejo Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer should be the first step you take if you or a loved one has experienced nursing home abuse or neglect. They can help serve as your advocate when you decide to go up against the nursing home facility.

It is the duty of nursing homes and assisted living centers is to provide quality care for our senior citizens. Mission Viejo’s nursing homes are expected to provide proper medical care, nutrition, quality of life and dignity for seniors.

Unfortunately, there are thousands of elderly residents who are abused or neglected every year in these facilities that are supposed to care for them. If you know someone who has experienced pain and suffering by being mistreated in a senior citizen living facility contact the Mission Viejo nursing home abuse attorneys of Bisnar Chase. Call 949-203-3814 for a free consultation.

5 Signs of Senior Resident Abuse

There are many physical and emotional signs of patient abuse in nursing homes. Unfortunately, due to fear or the inabilty to communicate at times, residents do not notify authorities about the abuse taking place. If your loved one has shown one of the following signs there could be a chance that they are experiencing mistreatment.

1. Bedsores: Bedsores, also known as pressure ulcers occur when there has been constant pressure on a specific part of the body. If an elderly patient is bed-ridden and has not been moved to prevent the ulcers this is grounds for neglect. Bedsores can appear in areas where the skin has discoloration that is purple or red, blisters, loss of skin and displays a white tone when the section is touched.

2. Poor hygiene: Elderly people are more prone to infection from bacteria and germs because of their weak immune system. If a nursing home resident is not being provided with proper hygiene this could lead to a virus. Due to neglect, elderly people who have experienced poor hygiene may exhibit signs of unclean hair, skin and also smell of urine.

3. Physical injuries: If an elderly person is consistently in the emergency room for dislocated joints, broken bones or is displaying intense bruising in multiple places there is a high chance that they have undergone a form of physical abuse. Usually when senior residents obtain these injuries its due to a staff member or caregiver biting, kicking, scratching or slapping the elder.

4. Depression or aloofness: Signs of depression, anxiety and withdrawal are all symptoms of psychological abuse. If the staff is using forms of intimidation such as withholding food, ignoring the elderly resident, or isolating the senior from the rest of the elderly community this can be classified as psychological abuse.The best option to take when these type of signs appear from your elderly loved one is to contact Mission Viejo nursing home attorney.

5. Vaginal bleeding or pelvic fractures: Elderly women are 6 times more likely to experience sexual abuse in nursing homes. If your loved one, male or female, has suddenly contracted STD's, exhibits bruising on the inner thighs or has difficulty walking these are all symptoms of your loved one being sexually abused.

It is common for elderly patients to suffer minor bruises from time to time but his or her family should be notified of falling incidents. Therefore, if there are unexplained injuries that have not been reported and do not appear on the medical reports, then, there may be an issue. Sudden changes in personality may be signs of nursing home mistreatment as well.

Why Abusive Behavior Takes Place in Nursing Homes

There are a variety of reasons why abuse occurs in nursing home facilities. A big factor that usually leads to neglect is due to the nursing home facility being understaffed. A facility being understaffed can lead to numerous mistakes such as giving the wrong medications or overlooking a patient that has bed sores.

Stress can also be a major factor in nursing home neglect and abuse. Holding the position of a caregiver can be very demanding. It is strongly suggested that if you are in a caregiver position and you are experiencing high levels of stress and anxiety that you receive counseling immediately.

Ways to Prevent Nursing Home Abuse

Due to the stresses and lack of staff of a nursing home, abuse can remain consistent and at times, unfortunately, can even lead to death. There are ways on how to prevent elder abuse and make sure that your loved one is protected.

You can prevent your loved one being in an abusive situation by:

• Visiting and checking on your senior family members frequently
• Make sure that they remain aware of their financial standing
• Keeping them involved in activities outside of the nursing home

Elder Abuse Cases are Often Underreported

The sad reality is that there are substantially more incidents of abuse than will ever be reported. It is common for victims to shy away from reporting incidents out of humiliation or depression. In such cases, it is rare for them to ever complain about their suffering to their loved one. They feel vulnerable or helpless and unwilling to admit their struggles. Even attentive and loving family members that visit regularly are often unable to notice any telltale signs of abuse or neglect. Even so, there are a number of red flags that family members should be on the look out for.

Elder abuse in Orange County is predominant and people from all classes of income are affected. Each year, about 225,000 senior citizens home become victims of nursing home abuse.

The following data displays nursing home abuse in Orange County:

• Just five of the 58 California counties (Orange, Los Angeles, San Diego, Riverside and Santa Clara) account for more than half of all reported elder abuse cases in California
• In 2008, California had an elderly population (individuals over 60) of 5,728,021.
• During that year there were 632,693 cases of elder abuse.
• Los Angeles County had approximately 25 percent of all elder abuse cases in California that year with 162,917.
• Orange County had the second most cases of elder abuse with over 53,000 cases resulting in 8.4 percent of all elder abuse cases in California.

Elder Abuse National Statistics

Elder abuse data is difficult to collect due to seniors being intimidated and threatened by their abusers in the facilities. The statistics that are collected reflect that nursing home abuse is a significant dilemma.

The following statistics were listed in a report by the National Center on Elder Abuse:

• Every year, anywhere between one and two million Americans aged 65 or older are exploited, injured or otherwise mistreated by someone whom “they depended for care or protection.”
• The frequency of elder abuse ranges somewhere between 2 and 10 percent.
• Approximately only one in 14 incidents of elder abuse in domestic settings are reported.
• It is estimated that only one in five cases of elder abuse, neglect, self-neglect or exploitation are ever reported.

Your Loved One Does Not Have to Suffer Anymore

If you worry that your loved one is being abused, neglected or mistreated, the experienced Mission Viejo nursing home abuse attorneys at the law firm of Bisnar Chase will be able to help you better understand your legal rights and options.

We have helped nursing home abuse victims and their families hold negligent nursing homes accountable for their actions. Please call us at 949-203-3814 or contact us today for a free and comprehensive consultation.

Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys
1301 Dove St. #120 Newport Beach, CA 92660