Washington, DC Nursing Home Abuse Attorney
Compassionate Representation for Victims & Families
Americans are living longer than ever before, which means that many families have made the difficult decision to move their loved ones into assisted living facilities with resources to provide daily care. Whether living in a nursing home is a personal choice or a decision dictated by health-related circumstances, all residents have the right to be treated fairly, safely, and with compassion.
If you or a family member has suffered damages due to a preventable accident or abuse, you have the right to hold the responsible party accountable. Bringing a claim can ensure other victims do not experience similar harm and that your family can receive compensation for damages, including pain and suffering, financial losses, and emotional injuries, and more. Our Washington DC nursing home abuse attorneys are ready to fight for you.
Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata, Siegel, P.C. is here to help. Call our office at (202) 659-8600 to schedule a complimentary consultation.
Nursing Home Abuse Takes Many Forms
At Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C., we fully support elderly victims and families during this unfortunate time and strive to help them recover any damages they suffered.
If your case involves any of the following or if you would like to discuss your rights, we’re here to help:
- Physical abuse
- Emotional abuse
- Financial exploitation
- Sexual abuse
- Neglect
Nursing home abuse can take many forms. According to the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA), elder abuse involves intentional actions that result in harm (or create a serious risk of harm) to a vulnerable elder by anyone in a relationship of trust with the patient. The older the patient, the more likely they are to be abused.
Warning signs of physical abuse may include:
- Scratches, bruises, or burns
- “Wrap around” bruises encircling a patient’s arms
- Inadequate explanation of how a patient sustained the injury
- A history of hospitalization for similar injuries
- Unexplained withdrawal from social interaction or activities
Elder physical abuse is not just limited to nursing home staff. Abuse can come from an acquaintance, a caregiver, a doctor or nurse, or any other person the patient has contact with. Physical abuse can include many different actions, including hitting or slapping, threats of violence, sexual abuse, or inappropriate use of restraint.
How You Can Give a Voice to Abused Individuals
Because of the nature of assisted living facilities and nursing homes, harm to elderly patients can be difficult to identify and often goes unnoticed for long periods of time. Many abused individuals are disabled or suffer from memory impairments like dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, and are not always able to speak out about their abuse.
In fact, a 2010 study concluded that nearly half of all dementia patients had been mistreated by their caregivers. It often becomes the responsibility of family members to recognize common warning signs and take a stand. At Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C., our team of lawyers is intimately familiar with nursing home injury cases and the numerous difficulties they pose, including the reluctance or inability of victims to speak out.
Let Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. be the voice your family needs to secure justice. To learn more about how we can help, contact us today.
What Are the Warning Signs of Nursing Home Neglect?
Making the decision to entrust a loved one’s care to a nursing home can be enormously difficult and emotional. While most nursing homes are well run and staffed with caring professionals, all too often, patients do not end up receiving the kind of treatment they should. Doctors and caregivers who fail to provide expected levels of care and service can end up causing serious and sometimes fatal injury to their patients.
Neglect can manifest itself in a variety of ways, including:
- Malnutrition
- Dehydration
- Sudden weight loss
- Bedsores
- Changes in personal hygiene
- Unusual changes in behavior
- A growing lack of friendly interaction with staff
- Environmental hazard in the patient’s room, such as unsafe furniture or mobility equipment, poor lighting, slippery floors, etc.
Victims of neglect are highly vulnerable to serious injuries, infections, and diseases. Reporting nursing home abuse and neglect on behalf of a loved one could mean the difference between life and death for a patient and others who may be suffering as well. If your loved one was injured or killed as a result of nursing home negligence, seek the help of a Washington, DC nursing home neglect lawyer at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata, Siegel, P.C.
Trust Your Case to Proven Nursing Home Injury Lawyers
At Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C., our legal team is comprised of attorneys who have earned recognition by some of the most prestigious legal organizations and attorney-ranking services. Partners in our firm have been recognized by Washingtonian Magazine as “Top Lawyers” in the District of Columbia, and all three of our firm’s active partners have earned the distinction of being included in the list of Washington, DC Super Lawyers® each year since 2011.
We understand that nursing home abuse and injury cases pose many challenges. Therefore, we encourage you to reach out to our firm for a free case evaluation as soon as possible. Our lawyers will explain your rights, determine whether you have a potential claim, and inform you about how we can create a customized, effective strategy to obtain justice and fair compensation.