Alabama nursing home abuse lawyers reveal what you should know
A nursing home employee was recently arrested for sexually abusing an 81-year-old nursing home resident with Alzheimer’s, according to recent news reports.
The incident occurred at a nursing home in New York City, according to The Daily News. Police arrested a 44-year-old X-ray technician for reportedly “endangering an incompetent person and improper sexual contact,” The Daily News reported.
The nursing home employee has been charged with endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person, a felony charge. The nursing home employee also faces a misdemeanor sex abuse charge, according to The Daily News.
Sadly, these types of reports are becoming far too common, as nursing home abuse continues to be a big problem at facilities across the country.
How Common Is Nursing Home Abuse?
Nursing home abuse, whether it’s in a nursing home or assisted living facility, is sadly extremely common, according to the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA). Psychological abuse is the most common type of nursing home abuse, accounting for 33.4% of abuse cases. Other common types of nursing abuse include physical abuse (14.1% of nursing home abuse cases), financial exploitation of nursing home residents (13.8%), and nursing home neglect (11.6%).
Sexual abuse in nursing homes accounted for an estimated 1.9% of cases, according to the NCEA. However, a study conducted by the NCEA noted that such figures could be much higher. In fact, the NCEA cited a recent study that for every reported incident of abuse, there are likely 24 additional cases that are not reported. As a result, the number of reported abuse cases likely only represents 4% of the total incidents of nursing home abuse.
What Are The Warning Signs Of Nursing Home Abuse?
Nursing home abuse can sometimes be difficult to identify. However, there are often warning signs of abuse family members can watch for to protect their loved ones. Common signs of abuse can include:
- Unexplained injuries, including broken bones or bruises
- Unexplained illnesses, including infections or sores
- Unexplained mood changes, including depression or anxiety
- Unexplained crying
- Sudden weight loss
- Nursing home resident not wanting to see or visit loved ones
- Nursing home restricting access to see residents
If something doesn’t seem right, report your concerns to the nursing home and to the police if you suspect a crime has been committed. Also, make sure your loved one is evaluated right away by a doctor. Then talk to an experienced attorney to learn more about the legal options available to your loved one and your family.
How Can A Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Help?
You might think you don’t need an attorney if you report nursing home abuse to the nursing home and the police. Many nursing home abuse claims, especially ones involving sexual abuse, can turn into very complicated legal cases. Often, the nursing home will deny doing anything wrong. They will also most likely have a lawyer ready to defend their actions.
The nursing home abuse attorneys at Braswell Murphy, LLC in Mobile, Alabama, have years of experience handling challenging legal cases. As a result, we’re familiar with the state and federal laws governing nursing homes. We know how to investigate such cases and can make those responsible answer for their actions.
To learn more about how we can help your family, simply contact us and schedule your free case evaluation with our law firm. We handle nursing home abuse and neglect cases throughout Alabama.
