Austin Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
Nursing home and elder abuse can be physical or emotional abuse. Nursing home residents are some of the most vulnerable populations because the residents there need help with basic life skills such as eating and dressing. There are federal laws in place to make sure the needs are met of residents living in nursing homes. Texas has created laws of their own to make sure residents are cared for appropriately and to provide a means of reporting abuse when it occurs.
Nursing homes must do the following:
- Maintain the residents physical and emotional well-being with high regard for their care
- Help the residents with basic hygiene tasks
- Help the residents with life skills such as eating, bathing, using the restroom
- Aid the residents in making informed decisions regarding their care
Elder abuse can occur within nursing homes, assisted living facilities, or even in the elderly’s own home. Elder abuse is any mistreatment of the elderly. Sometimes the elder abuse is not evident. Following are some items to be aware of:
There are four types of elder abuse:
- Physical Abuse– often causing injuries
- Emotional Abuse– which can consist of harassments or intimidation of the elderly individual
- Financial Abuse– unethical control or access to the elder’s finances
- Sexual Abuse– any form of sexual contact
The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services has an Adult Protective Services division that investigates the reports of abuse within the older adult population statewide. A 2020 report from Adult Protective Services in Austin reported 9290 completed investigations. In the same year, they completed 86,614 investigations of potential elder abuse.
Elder abuse and nursing home abuse of any kind should not be tolerated. If you suspect your loved one is the victim of this kind of abuse, you should report your concerns immediately. There are many warning signs to watch for in regard to elder abuse. Warning signs include:
- Unexplained injuries or falls
- Malnutrition or substantial change in eating habits
- Unpaid bills or unusual changes in financial assets
- Missing items or belongings
- Unexpected changes to legal documents such as wills or power of attorney
- Signs of emotional distress such as depression or anxiety
Contact a Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer in Austin Today
At the Loewy Law Firm, we have experienced and qualified attorneys ready to take your case. Our legal team values our elderly population and stands ready to proceed with the legal intervention that will protect your loved ones. Call us today for a free consultation. We may be able to help you with the investigation of your claims and seek financial compensation. Our team is ready to help put an end to this mistreatment and aggressively hold the at-fault parties accountable.