Nursing Home Attorney DC
If you believe that your loved one has been mistreated in a nursing home, you may want to reach out to a DC nursing home attorney. Your family may be entitled to compensation. A lawyer from The Law Firm of Frederick J. Brynn, P.C. may help you bring a timely claim against the nursing home.
Common Myths About Nursing Home Abuse
Nobody likes to imagine their family suffering harm in a nursing home, but it does happen. Nursing home abuse is often misunderstood.
Here are the most common myths about nursing home abuse.
- Nursing home abuse results from stressed staff members. Working at a nursing home often involves long hours, which can cause staff members to become stressed out. These facilities are also frequently understaffed, so that contributes to even more stress. However, stress is never an excuse to mistreat residents. No matter how stressed they may be, staff members should always treat residents with the care and respect they deserve.
- Nursing home abuse is always physical. Many people associate nursing home abuse with physical injuries, like broken bones and bruises. However, nursing home abuse is not always physically violent. Staff members can also subject residents to emotional abuse, like yelling, intimidation, insults and threats. Nursing home staff members may also neglect residents or financially abuse them.
- Nursing home abuse is obvious. Unfortunately, nursing home abuse is not always so easy to identify. If there are no obvious physical signs, it often goes overlooked. As a DC nursing home attorney can confirm, residents usually do not report abuse to their family members out of fear and shame. That is why family members should look out for signs of abuse, such as malnutrition, unexplained injuries and behavioral changes.
- Abusive nursing home staff members always get caught. While this would be nice if it were true, it is not usually the case. As mentioned above, many nursing home residents are too scared to report abuse. As a result, it often goes unnoticed.
- Abuse affects men and women equally. Female nursing home residents actually have a higher risk of suffering abuse than their male counterparts. However, that does not mean that male nursing home residents never experience abuse. Residents who have some type of cognitive impairment are the most susceptible to abuse.
What to Do If You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse
If you have reason to believe that your family member is being abused in a nursing home, you should first remove him or her from the environment immediately. You do not want to put your loved one in any more danger. Then, it is critical to get in touch with an experienced nursing home abuse attorney. Proving nursing home abuse can be complicated, so you want someone knowledgeable and skilled on your side. Your attorney can help you gather necessary evidence and stand up for your family member’s rights.
Schedule a consultation with a DC nursing attorney from The Law Firm of Frederick J. Brynn, P.C. to talk about your case in detail.