Surprise, AZ Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Attorney

If your loved one has suffered abuse or neglect while in the care of a nursing home, long-term care, or assisted living facility, you want justice for them and for those responsible for the abuse to be held accountable.

Although countless families trust nursing homes and long-term care facilities to care for loved ones when they require regular or round-the-clock care, this trust is sometimes misplaced. If your family member has been the victim of abuse or neglect, a Surprise, AZ nursing home abuse and neglect attorney can advocate for their and your family’s rights.

Let a nursing home abuse and neglect attorney from Mushkatel, Gobbato, & Kile, P.L.L.C. become part of your family’s trusted legal team for seeking financial recovery and accountability from those responsible for the suffering your loved one has endured. If you have had a loved one sustain harm due to nursing home abuse or neglect in Surprise, AZ, contact our dedicated attorneys at our law firm for an initial case evaluation.

What Are Common Types of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect in Arizona?

From stolen items to abusive language, ignored bedsores to preventable falls, abuse and neglect can take a number of forms at nursing homes. Major categories include:

• Physical abuse, which involves the use of physical force
• Psychological or emotional abuse, or any non-physical activity intended to cause fear, emotional distress, or mental anguish
• Sexual abuse, including any unwanted or non-consensual sexualized behavior directed towards or involving a resident
• Financial abuse, including theft of a resident’s property or using authority to deceive a resident into handing over assets or other financial benefits
• Neglect, or the failure to provide for a resident’s physical, medical, emotional, and social needs

What Are Some Signs of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect?

On the outside, most nursing homes appear to be pleasant and caring facilities for our most vulnerable family members. Yet, sadly abuse is common at many of these locations. When your family has a loved one residing in a nursing home, warning signs of abuse or neglect that you need to look out for include:

• Pressure ulcers/bedsores
• Dehydration or malnutrition (weight loss)
• Restraint injuries
• Excessive medication or sedation
• Fall injuries
• Frequent, unexplained injuries or infections
• Injuries or infections that are not reported to a resident’s doctor or family
• Multiple injuries in various stages of healing
• Unsanitary conditions of a nursing facility
• Unclean or torn clothing and bedding
• Extreme emotional distress
• Becoming withdrawn or non-communicative
• Isolation from others
• Incidents of wandering or elopement
• Fear of being touched or left alone
• Reluctance to speak in the presence of nursing home staff
• Sudden changes in behavior, including agitation, combativeness, or mood swings
• Engaging in soothing behaviors like rocking or mumbling
• Missing items from a resident’s room
• Unexplained transactions on a resident’s financial account or changes to a resident’s financial or estate planning documents

How Can You Report Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect in Arizona?

If you suspect that a family member living in a nursing home has been harmed by abuse or neglect, you have several options for reporting the suspected abuse or neglect:

• Arizona Adult Protective Services, which investigates reports of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of elderly or vulnerable adults
• Arizona’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman, who can act as an advocate on behalf of nursing home residents who may be suffering from abuse or neglect in their facility
• Arizona Department of Health Services, which accepts complaints regarding nursing homes and long-term care facilities in the state

Finally, if you believe that a loved one may be facing an imminent threat of serious or fatal injury or harm from nursing home abuse, you should contact the local police department directly or call 911 to protect your loved one from the abuse.

Who May Be Held Liable in a Nursing Home Abuse Claim?

Parties who may be held liable in claims of nursing home abuse or neglect include:

• Nursing home staff members, including doctors, nurses, orderlies, or kitchen or maintenance staff

• Nursing home administrators, who may have negligently failed to respond to or facilitated the abuse or neglect

• The owner/operator of the nursing home facility

• Third-party contractors who provide services in the nursing home, such as cleaning, maintenance, or cafeteria services, or third-party medical providers brought in to provide care to residents

How Do You Prove Fault in an Arizona Nursing Home Abuse Claim?

To prove that someone has been harmed by nursing home abuse or neglect and who bears responsibility, you may need to rely on evidence such as:

• Medical records from the treatment of injuries or illnesses caused by the abuse or neglect
• Witness statements, including from your loved ones themselves, yourself, other members of your family, or other nursing home residents and staff
• Photos and videos of the nursing home facilities
• Surveillance camera footage
• Staffing records
• Policy and procedure manuals from the nursing home

What Types of Compensation Are Available for Arizona Nursing Home Abuse Claims?

In a nursing home abuse or neglect claim, your loved one and your family may be entitled to recover compensation for expenses and losses arising from the injuries your loved one has suffered. Compensation in a nursing home abuse claim can cover things such as:

• Repair or replacement of damaged or stolen property

• Costs of medical treatments and rehabilitation, including mental health care

• Physical pain

• Emotional distress

• Loss of quality of life from disability, disfigurement or scarring, or reduced life expectancy

What If My Loved One Died Due to Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect?

If your family has had a loved one pass away from injuries or medical conditions caused by nursing home abuse or neglect, your family may be entitled to pursue a wrongful death claim against negligent staff and the nursing home. A wrongful death claim may provide your family with financial compensation for losses you have incurred due to your loved one’s passing, including:

• Funeral and burial expenses

• Loss of your loved one’s care, affection, guidance, and society

• Emotional suffering and distress that you have experienced due to your loved one’s death

Contact the Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Lawyers in Surprise, AZ Today

Older adults who experience abuse often remain silent, but they deserve justice. Don’t put off speaking to a Surprise, AZ nursing home abuse and neglect lawyer about your legal options. Contact the law firm of Mushkatel, Gobbato, & Kile, P.L.L.C. today for a confidential consultation.

Visit Our Surprise, AZ Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Law Offices