Santa Ana Nursing Home Abuse Neglect Lawyer

Each day, thousands of society’s most frail and disabled individuals suffer severe pain and injury from preventable falls, facility-acquired bedsores, or home neglect at the hands of their caregivers. Many senior living facilities advertise that they provide residents with high-quality skilled nursing care.

However, the network of California nursing home abuse attorneys has seen a significant rise in the volume of cases involving abuse and neglect. Our network of personal injury lawyers has handled claims and lawsuits on behalf of victims living in overcrowded facilities that lack adequate staffing to meet the needs of their residents.

Did your loved one experience nursing home abuse and neglect in the Santa Ana area? Contact us at (800) 926-7565 for a free case evaluation with an affiliate Santa Ana nursing home abuse and neglect attorney. We have helped many injured residents in personal injury and abuse cases.

The affiliate California personal injury attorneys at Nursing Home Law Center, LLC, will hold parties responsible in an injury case accountable for negligence and help victims receive the compensation they deserve. Call our Santa Ana nursing home abuse lawyer affiliates today to schedule a free consultation, and we will answer any questions and guide you through the process of a nursing home abuse lawsuit.

Nursing Home Abuse Statistics

Senior resident abuse is an intentional act that causes or creates the risk of mistreating a vulnerable elderly person. According to the National Council on Aging, up to five million older Americans are abused every year.

In Orange County, there are over 470,000 residents that are 65 years old or older. By 2040, this number is projected to double, having numbers like that expected makes any neglect or mistreatment an important issue.

The number of reported elderly casualties may be lower than the actual number because there are many situations where violations go unreported.

Why Santa Ana Nursing Home Abuse And Neglect Occurs

Patients in nursing facilities require care due to their disabilities and increasing in age. Unfortunately, the quality of care is lacking in many Southern California nursing facilities.

The abuse and neglect that a nursing home resident experiences may be intentional, from frustrated or underappreciated staff in a high turnover profession. Other reasons can contribute to it being unintentional, such as rushed training or simply unmonitored accidents from understaffing. Any neglect and mistreatment are unacceptable, and the responsible parties can be held accountable under civil and criminal law.

Some common factors contributing to nursing home elder abuse are listed below.

Understaffed Nursing Homes in Southern California

Patients in understaffed nursing homes risk serious injuries and even death. Under California law, nursing homes must provide patients with at least 3.2 hours of care daily.

It is difficult for staff to give patients the attention and proper care needed when there are not enough qualified workers. Therefore, when patients need help with basic care, they may try to help themselves which can lead to falls, smoking accidents, and in some cases wandering injuries. If the staff deems the case not to be severe, many assisted living facilities do not report the number of workers on a given day to avoid consequences.

A Santa Ana nursing home abuse lawyer can help hold a facility accountable under the law in court for their actions that contribute to negligence.

Hiring Unqualified And Untrained Nursing Home Workers

There are strict regulations that Orange County and all other Southern California nursing homes must follow to ensure the safety of each resident. Patients have individual care plans for their unique needs.

The doctors, nurses, assistants, and cooks must be adequately trained to care for and provide for anyone living or visiting the facility. Mistakes and neglect are more likely to occur when nursing home staff members do not know how to handle situations properly.

Performing thorough training and background checks to ensure staff is qualified to perform work is essential for the safety of patients. Certifications and staff training that is required for caregivers to have to continue working are sometimes overlooked when the facility is understaffed.

Failure to Monitor Orange County Nursing Home Staff

The Department of Public Health Licensing and Certification Division performs annual inspections of nursing facilities. Under federal law, those receiving Medicare and Medicaid must undergo additional protocols and regulations.

Inspections will usually reveal what the facility needs to correct immediately and other signs of negligence that family members may not see when they visit. Visitors or family members can visit Medicare.gov can search facilities in Orange County or other areas in Southern California and see how each one is rated.

Poor inspection results will give the facility incentive to fix identified issues. Many experts believe that the quality of care in Southern California nursing homes would increase if nursing home staff were monitored regularly.

Types of Nursing Home Abuse And Neglect

Mistreatment and neglect can occur due to the nursing home residents’ vulnerability and a decline in cognitive function. It is easy to identify a victim with obvious signs of abuse and neglect. There are also additional forms of abuse that can take place without visible proof that it is happening.

All forms can create adverse health effects and complications from the distress and pain they cause. Some common types of mistreatment a nursing home resident may experience are:

Physical Assault

This type of harm causes physical pain, illness, injury, or death. Physical abuse can include:

• Hitting
• Pushing
• Slapping
• Kicking
• Punching
• Choking

Physical abuse can be perilous for elderly residents because many have weaker bones and a weaker immune system.

Emotional Abuse

Emotional abuse is a form of mistreatment that causes emotional pain and suffering in the residents, and if repeated over long periods of time can lead to mental disabilities such as PTSD.

This type of nursing home abuse can include:

• Yelling
• Intimidating
• Threatening
• Blaming
• Bullying
• Ignoring
• Embarrassing
• Keeping someone isolated

Nursing Home Neglect

Nursing home neglect is considered abuse and does occur in facilities in Santa Ana and the Orange County area. Neglect can include avoiding or ignoring a resident’s complaint, allowing them to live in unsanitary conditions, and failing to provide basic needs.

The health of these patients is at risk when neglected because they may be experiencing prolonged pain and discomfort, which can lead to issues including:

• Bed wetting
• Infections
• Bed rail entrapment
• Unessicary falls or slips
• Providing basic needs
• Wondering injuries
• In some cases, death

Sexual Abuse

This type of abuse consists of unwanted sexual activity forced upon a victim. Sexual assault can include touching or finding the opportunity to overpower another person to rape them. Justice may not be found for sexual assult survivors due to daily threats or intimidation tactics from their abuser.

Financial Exploitation

The elderly are at a high risk of being abused financially by family and friends they trust. At assisted living facilities, a resident is at risk of financial abuse due to trusting their caregivers.

Nursing homes can exploit elders by adding charges to their accounts, making drastic changes in treatment, or stealing financial information.

Typical signs of financial exploitation can include:

• Surprised about the denied charge or bounced check
• Increasing confusion in financial status
• Decrease in basic needs (etc. purchasing medication, or favorite foods)
• Nervousness about financial stability
• Interest in making money when obviously unable
• Cash, money missing from their accounts
• Checks being cashed by unauthorized people
• Changes in advance directives

Signs That May Signal Your Loved One Is Being Abused

There are many signs of someone being abused and many signs may not be obvious at first. Family members can identify signs by visiting their loved ones and watching interactions with staff members.

Contact our affiliate nursing home abuse and neglect attorneys for assistance if you have noticed any signs of mistreatment in a Santa Ana nursing home and want to seek justice.

Some of the signs that a nursing home resident is being abused or neglected include:

• Weight loss or gain
• Dehydration
• Unexplained bruising or marks on wrists or ankles
• Open wounds, cuts, and scratches
• Burns
• Skin discoloration
• Infections
• Bedsores
• New broken bones
• Vaginal bleeding
• Poor personal hygiene
• Dirty clothing
• Visible health and safety hazards
• Extreme emotions (eg. very sad or very angry)
• Withdrawn
• Nervousness
• Fearful of others
• Personal belongings are missing (eg. checks, valuables, jewelry, etc.)

The signs of mistreatment that patients may be experiencing can result in injuries, infections, decreased quality of living, and even loss of life. If you are a witness to any type of abuse please reach out to the authorities and consider one of our affiliate nursing home lawyers who is experienced in helping injured clients.

The worst-rated nursing homes in Santa Ana  include: 

What Should I Do If My Family Member Is Experiencing Nursing Home Abuse?

If you suspect your loved one is being abused at an Orange County nursing home, options are available. Those responsible need to be held accountable for damages and to help improve the quality of care in the facilities.

You can file a complaint with the assisted living facility, as well as report the situation to law enforcement if the mistreatment does not stop. Consider gathering witness information, and writing down your experience so that important details regarding the incident aren’t lost. You can also contact Adult Protective Services at (800) 491-7121 to report the abuse.

Hiring elder abuse attorneys to assist with a lawsuit can help you recover damages and receive compensation. You should also contact an attorney in our network that can investigate and determine who the responsible parties are to sue in court for neglect and abuse.

Our affiliate personal injury law firms can help your family receive compensation for medical bills, future medical care, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and emotional distress through civil law. Contact us at (800) 926-7565 for a free case review with an attorney experienced in neglect cases.

Call Our Santa Ana Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer for a Free Consultation

Nursing home abuse is a crime and threatens the health and well-being of residents who need assistance with basic needs. Do you suspect a Santa Ana or Orange County nursing facility is mistreating its residents? Do you have a loved one who died of a wrongful death? It is crucial to make every effort possible to help.

The Santa Ana nursing home abuse lawyers at Nursing Home Law Center, LLC, have helped many clients seek justice and the financial compensation they deserve for their pain, injuries, and losses. Our actions have helped Southern California family members prevent future neglect and mistreatment.

Contact our Southern California elder abuse and neglect lawyer network today for a free case evaluation. All information shared with our network of elder abuse lawyers remains confidential.

If your loved one has experienced harm in a nursing home located in San Diego, Long Beach, Santa Ana, or any other Southern California facility, contact our affiliate California nursing home abuse lawyers. Call us at (800) 926-7565 to schedule your free consultation with abuse and neglect attorneys who can explain the legal process under California law.

All confidential or sensitive information you share with our legal team remains private through an attorney-client relationship.

Resources:

• California Association of Health Facilities – Nursing Home Statistics
• National Council on Aging – About Elder Abuse
• National Center on Elder Abuse – Statistics of Elder Abuse