Nursing-Home Neglect and Abuse News Roundup for September 2014

Statistics on elder abuse are difficult to come by for many reasons, one of the most important being that many cases aren’t reported to police. This is because the victims are cut off from the outside world and unable to defend themselves and report their abusers. 

In fact, a study from Cornell University estimates that for every one case that is reported, 24 go unnoticed and unpunished. Everyone seems to agree on one point: The problem is greater than is apparent. The National Center on Elder Abuse surveyed thousands of residents and found that 44 percent had experienced abuse and 95 percent had witnessed neglect. 

For the families of those who have been mistreated, it’s easy to feel helpless in the face of so much injustice. Even those nursing homes that are caught usually only face low fines. However, the loved ones of abuse victims have the ability to file a personal-injury lawsuit to seek justice and compensation. 

At Eells & Tronvold Law Offices, PLC, we are committed to assisting families as they look for closure on these issues. We are an experienced law firm that specializes in personal-injury cases, and you can rely on our experience throughout the process of filing your lawsuit. To arrange a consultation with a personal-injury lawyer in Cedar Rapids, call us at 319-393-1020. 

Husband Files Lawsuit After Wife Dies in Nursing Home

Neglect is one of the most dangerous forms of nursing-home abuse because it so often goes unnoticed. Dehydration, malnutrition and a lack of supervision can be deadly to the elderly, but it’s easy for staff to explain the problems away as just part of the aging process. Families often believe this explanation, choosing to believe that declining health and fall accidents happen to all aging adults. 

WV Gazette reports that one man refused to believe these types of explanations. He alleges that the neglect of his wife accelerated the decline of her mental and physical health, directly leading to her death. He claims that the nursing home did not retain enough staff or supplies to properly care for residents, which caused her to fall and suffer injuries several times. Furthermore, he says the facility neglected to inform him of her declining health. 

Judge Sentences Caregiver for Abuse

Sometimes, the problems in nursing homes are more than just neglect. When outright abuse occurs, it’s much easier to spot the signs. 

KOCO News reports that family members noticed bruises on their loved one’s arms and mouth. They also noticed a change in behavior. Specifically, she was scared most of the time. After setting up a camera, they found that a caregiver was physically beating and verbally abusing the elderly woman. The caregiver will now face four years behind bars. 

If you are interested in speaking to a personal-injury lawyer about filing a lawsuit against a caregiver or a nursing home, let us help. To arrange a consultation, just call 319-393-1020.