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Pennsauken Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers
Strong advocacy for the South Jersey nursing home victims of abuse and neglect
Families have the right to expect that their parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other senior residents who live in nursing homes will receive quality care. Sadly, many nursing home residents suffer abuse and neglect. At Ferrara & Gable, we hold nursing homes accountable when the owners fail to take the necessary steps to ensure each resident receives competent medical care and is safe from physical, sexual, emotional, or financial abuse. Nursing homes also have a duty to meet the basic daily needs of each resident, such as nutrition, personal grooming, access to family, and participation in social activities.
There are about 20 nursing homes that serve Pennsauken – one in Pennsauken and 19 nearby. Each of the nursing homes has a duty to comply with New Jersey’s nursing home standards. Nursing homes are also required to comply with federal laws. Nursing homes that bill Medicare and Medicaid are also required to comply with the regulations of the US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Our Pennsauken nursing home lawyers file personal injury complaints and wrongful death complaints on behalf of residents and their families.
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How can we help?
- What is nursing home abuse and neglect?
- How is nursing home abuse categorized in Pennsauken?
- Why should nursing homes in Pennsauken be accountable for abuse and neglect?
- What rights do Pennsauken nursing home residents have?
- What damages can be awarded when nursing home residents are abused in Pennsauken?
- Do you have a Pennsauken nursing home abuse and neglect attorney near me?
What is nursing home abuse and neglect?
Nursing home abuse
Nursing home abuse involves intentional misconduct. Staff members should be held accountable if they take advantage of any resident’s physical, emotional, or cognitive challenges – to punish them, engage in sexual acts, isolate them, or steal from them. Nursing homes should understand each type of infirmity and each type of abuse. Nursing homes in Pennsauken can be held accountable if they fail to take measures to prevent abuse before it happens, respond to complaints of abuse, or discipline any abusers.
Nursing home neglect
Nursing home neglect includes failing to provide for each resident’s daily needs, failing to prevent known dangers (for example, many seniors are at risk of falling), and failing to have written policies and procedures for every possible type of abuse, risk, or danger.
New Jersey defines nursing homes as:
Any institution, whether operated for profit or not, which maintains and operates facilities for extended medical and nursing treatment or care for two or more unrelated individuals with acute or chronic illness or injury, or a physical disability, or who are convalescing, or who are in need of assistance in bathing, dressing, or some other type of supervision, and are in need of such treatment or care on a continuing basis.
Residents of nursing homes are considered “seniors” if they are 60 years of age or older. Nursing homes generally care for seniors. They also care for adults with disabilities.
How is nursing home abuse categorized in Pennsauken?
The National Institutes of Health classifies abuse and neglect as follows:
- Physical abuse. This type of abuse involves:
- Slapping, pushing, and hitting a resident.
- Using physical or chemical restraints without medical approval
- Causing harm in various ways, including malnutrition, dehydration, failing to give a resident their medications, bedsores, infections, unexplained falls, and weight loss
- Failing to ensure a resident has their dentures and hearing aids
- Emotional abuse. This type of abuse involves:
- Intimidation and threats
- Intentionally causing anxiety or fear
- Withdrawal and isolation of a resident
- Verbal abuse and insults
- Sexual abuse. This type of abuse involves:
- Any type of non-consensual sexual contact
- Forcing a resident to watch sexual acts against their will
- Sexual abusers may include staff members, anyone with access to the facility, and residents
- Many sexual abuse victims have cognitive disabilities such as dementia or Alzheimer’s because the abuser knows the victim won’t remember what happened
- Financial abuse. This type of abuse involves:
- Unauthorized credit card purchases
- Powers of attorney in the names of nonrelatives
- Taking Social Security, retirement benefits, or disability benefits
- Other unexplained expenses or financial transactions
- Neglect. Nursing home neglect involves:
- Not taking steps to prevent, monitor, report, or discipline the above types of abuse
- Not tending to the resident’s daily needs, such as medications, nutrition, and personal grooming
- Failing to address mobility issues, which can cause falls and bedsores
- Allowing a resident to wander unsupervised
- Abandoning a resident unsupervised
Nursing home abuse and neglect also include:
- Failing to respect the rights of a resident
- Noncompliance with or violations of any federal, state, or contractual laws or rights
- Unsanitary living conditions
- Unexplained illnesses or injuries
Nursing homes in Pennsauken should have strategies in place to protect residents who have dementia, Alzheimer’s, and any other type of cognitive difficulty.
Seniors rely on family members, friends, and nursing home staff members to observe and report any signs of abuse or neglect. Reports of abuse or neglect should made to:
- The Pennsauken nursing home
- The New Jersey Long-Term Care Ombudsman
- Our Pennsauken nursing home abuse and neglect lawyers
Why should nursing homes in Pennsauken be accountable for abuse and neglect?
At Ferrara & Gable, we have the experience and working relationships with nursing home professionals to hold nursing homes accountable for the preventable harm they cause their residents. Some of the causes of nursing home abuse and neglect include:
- Vetting each new applicant for any record of abuse or neglect – and for their credentials and qualifications
- Investigating active complaints
- Implementing safety and reporting protocols
- Respecting each resident’s rights
- Conducting safety inspections
- Complying with federal and New Jersey nursing home laws, regulations, and standards
- Fully staffing the nursing home
Nursing homes are generally liable for the neglect of their employees.
What rights do Pennsauken nursing home residents have?
Federal and New Jersey laws grant nursing home residents specific rights. The US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) provides the following rights for any Pennsauken nursing home resident if the nursing home bills Medicare or Medicaid (most do). These rights include the right to:
- Be free from abuse and neglect
- Dignity and respect
- Engage in social activities
- Freedom from discrimination
- Freedom from physical or chemical restraints
- File complaints
- Look for legal counsel
- Receive quality medical care
- Learn what costs they’re being charged and services they’re receiving
- Manage their finances
- Privacy, property, and living arrangements
- Spend time with visitors
- Obtain social services
- Leave the nursing home, such as for a day out with family
- Properly authorized and managed discharges and transfers
- The involvement of family and friends
New Jersey’s nursing home Bill of Rights has comparable rights to those of the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid.
What damages can be awarded when nursing home residents are abused in Pennsauken?
Seniors, by definition of their age, only have a limited number of years left. So, it’s extra important to hold nursing homes accountable for the harm they cause your loved one and to prevent other seniors in the nursing home from being harmed.
Our Pennsauken nursing home lawyers demand compensation for all your loved one’s medical bills, pain and suffering, and inability to enjoy life’s pleasures. Your loved one may be entitled to punitive damages for conduct that is unconscionable.
Do you have a Pennsauken nursing home abuse and neglect attorney near me?
Ferrara & Gable meets nursing home residents, their families, and their guardians at our Pennsauken office located at 601 Longwood Avenue in Cherry Hill, NJ. When necessary, we visit the nursing home where your loved one resides or the home of a family member. We also conduct phone and online video consultations.
Your loved one has the right to talk with our lawyers and file a complaint. We’ll guide you and your loved one through the claims process.
Speak with our experienced Pennsauken nursing home abuse and neglect lawyers now
Your relative has the right to be safe and to feel secure when they live in a nursing home in Pennsauken. At Ferrara & Gable, we’ve been fighting for personal injury victims for 50 years. We have working relationships with elder care physicians and nursing home professionals. We’re ready now to protect your loved one and seek compensation for all their damages. To schedule a consultation with our Pennsauken nursing home abuse and neglect lawyers, call us or contact us today. We proudly serve Camden County and all of South Jersey.