Santa Rosa Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
ALL PEOPLE DESERVE DIGNITY, YET OUR ELDERLY ARE NEGLECTED AND ABUSED
At The Law Offices of Freeman & Freeman, our Sonoma County nursing home abuse lawyers have dedicated their careers to helping families obtain the compensation they rightfully deserve after their loved ones have been harmed. A nursing home abuse injury should never be tolerated. Call (707) 575-7141 for a free initial consultation.
It's hard enough to leave your loved one in the care of a nursing home. When your senior loved one suffers abuse or negligence, your family can be devastated. At The Law Offices of Freeman & Freeman, our nursing home abuse lawyers have fought for the rights of abuse and negligence victims. We have a record of getting results for victims and their families. Call us today.
WHY DOES NURSING HOME ABUSE GO UNREPORTED?
Your family member may be hesitant to speak out, either out of shame or fear of reprisals, and safeguarding him or her from further harm may depend on you taking action now. You might notice obvious signs of nursing home abuse or neglect such as open wounds or bruising. Other signs may not be so obvious. Your loved one may suddenly be uncommunicative, or he or she might be depressed over a long period of time without giving you any reason for the change in behavior. If you have the feeling that something just isn't right, do not hesitate to look for the cause. Below are some reasons why nursing home abuse is not reported:
- 91% of U.S. nursing homes have staffing levels too low to provide adequate care
- Common injuries in nursing homes are falls, dehydration, malnutrition, and bedsores -most caused by understaffing
- On average, a nursing home with 100 beds has anywhere from 100-200 falls per year. Many more go unreported
- In the U.S. about 250,000 nursing home residents suffer from bedsores every year.
- In 2009, a CBS News analysis found over 1,000 homes were cited for hiring staff with a history of abuse.
If you or a loved one has been a victim of nursing home abuse, the Law Offices of Freeman & Freeman can help. Call (707) 575-7141.
SPEAKING OUT AGAINST NURSING HOME AND ELDER ABUSE
Too often, elderly people who cannot speak up for themselves are abused, neglected, or taken advantage of financially. Rebecca Freeman, a member of the legal team at the Law Offices of Freeman & Freeman, has chosen to specialize in elder abuse cases in order to be a voice for those who deserve to be heard.
WHEN YOU SUSPECT ELDER ABUSE
If you suspect that a nursing home mistreated your loved one, you are not alone. With more than 1.5 million nursing home residents in the United States, many families are forced to face various types of elder abuse. While many nursing homes in the United States provide top-notch care for their residents, some facilities are under-staffed, unsanitary and poorly run. Do you know what to look for when choosing a nursing home for your loved one?
Nursing home abuse takes many forms, from neglect in assisting with personal hygiene, nutrition and medication to imposing social isolation, intentionally humiliating the resident, sexually assaulting or molesting the victim and even attacks with beating and other forms of violence. Whatever the circumstances of your family member's abuse, you should not wait to take action to hold the wrongdoers accountable.
If you suspect a loved one is being abused in a nursing home, REPORT THE ABUSE immediately! Should you need a nursing home abuse attorney to assist you further, here are a few reasons to choose the Law Offices of Freeman and Freeman.
Read a true story of a nursing home abuse client and how we made a difference in the outcome of the case and the client's life.
Sonoma County Nursing Home Ratings & Safety Violation Information
The rates of injuries from nursing home patients around the country has gotten higher in recent years, and that trend does not look like it will be subsiding in the near future, even in Santa Rosa. That's why the associates at Freeman & Freeman have taken it on our own to conduct thorough research into fully understanding the nursing homes across Santa Rosa and Sonoma County. We will stop at nothing for any of our client's investigative needs, thus we are going to share the research we've conducted on Santa Rosa's nursing homes.
By utilizing our overview of nursing home ratings and safety violations, you and your loved ones can make an informed decision about where to re-locate an elderly family member if they're ready to make the transition into their first nursing home in Santa Rosa, or if your loved one is looking to re-locate themselves from a troubling experience at a nursing home.
This page will also delve into what we do, what we look for, signs of abuse and inferior care, how we can help and what to do if you suspect poor care. The information on this page will undoubtedly give you a much broader spectrum of information in terms of Santa Rosa's nursing homes, and ultimately could keep your loved ones out of abusive situations or help you navigate your options when nursing home abuse affects you and your family. Click here to read more about Sonoma County nursing home ratings and safety.
SANTA ROSA NURSING HOME ABUSE LAWYERS
People turn to nursing homes and other long-term care centers because their loved ones can no longer live independently. For many families, a nursing home is the best alternative. Ideally, a professional nursing home staff will take care of their loved ones in a safe, friendly environment.
Unfortunately, some nursing home administrators cut corners and place profits above the safety of residents. Instead of living in a warm, friendly environment, elderly residents and dependent adults may be living in an abusive or threatening environment. They may be mistreated or seriously injured due to negligence.
HOW ELDER LAW PROTECTS NURSING HOME RESIDENTS
California elder law protects seniors living in nursing homes. The California nursing home reform act was created in 1987 to protect residents from abuse or neglect. Furthermore, under federal regulations, all nursing homes must have written policies that describe the residents' rights. The Resident's Bill of Rights is available to any resident who requests it.
Elder law can be complex. Laws frequently change. Because some abuse and neglect cases can be difficult to prove, it's important to hire a Santa Rosa elder abuse attorney who can protect your rights.
The nursing home's insurance carrier may try to deny an abuse claim or significantly reduce compensation for an injured resident. With an experienced nursing home abuse lawyer on your side, you can increase your chances of obtaining the results you deserve.
Elder Abuse and Neglect in California
CALIFORNIA ELDER ABUSE LAWYER
Elder abuse and neglect is on the rise as individuals throughout the nation grow older. The number of people over 50 years old will increase by 74 percent between 1999 and 2020, according to statistics. California law defines an elder as anyone who is 65 years or older. An elder is part of a protected class. The California law is known as the “Elder Abuse and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act” (EADACPA).
If you're an elder, your loved one is an elder and you or your loved one was abused, you may have grounds for an elder abuse lawsuit. Call (707) 575-7141 for a free consultation. The law defines abuse as:
- Physical abuse
- Neglect
- Fiduciary abuse
- Abandonment
- Elopement (Wandering Off)
- Isolation or other treatment with resulting physical harm or pain or mental suffering
- The deprivation by a care custodian of goods or services which are necessary to avoid physical harm or mental suffering
While abuse and neglect can take place in a nursing home or an assisted living facility, some cases of elder abuse and neglect originate in a family's home. Abuse may be committed by a family member, but may also be traced to a caregiver who visits the home.
DEFENDING THE RIGHTS OF THE ELDERLY
A nursing home abuse lawyer from the Law Offices of Freeman & Freeman can fight to protect the rights of your loved one. We take nursing home cases in and around our offices in Sacramento, Napa, Santa Rosa, Palmdale and Fairfield. If an elderly family member has been injured or harmed due to nursing home abuse or neglect, contact our firm to discuss your legal options. A Santa Rosa personal injury attorney from our team can answer all your questions about the situation and assist you in gathering evidence to support the claim.
We stand by our clients throughout the entire legal process, working diligently to secure the justice and compensation that are due. Do not hesitate to contact us for help in safeguarding your loved one. Every day you wait before taking legal action is another day when your family member is at risk of suffering further verbal attacks, sexual abuse or physical violence. Whether you merely suspect that abuse is occurring or if you want to sue the nursing home for wrongful death, we are ready to help.
Our team is ready to confidentially review your case for free.