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Philadelphia Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

It is incredibly difficult to make the choice to place a loved one in a nursing home or skilled living facility. However, if their needs become more than we can handle, a move is necessary. What we should never have to deal with is our loved ones being abused by those charged with their care.

Abuse of the elderly is abhorrent. At Soloff & Zervanos, P.C., we want to help if you need a Philadelphia nursing home abuse lawyer. Our personal injury attorneys will investigate what happened and move to secure the compensation you and your loved one deserve.

An Aging Population

Life expectancies have dramatically increased and the average age of the population is shifting upwards. That is why we will likely see an increase in the number of people in nursing homes over the next decade. Unfortunately, elder abuse is vastly under-reported and understudied in the United States and it happens every day in nursing homes across the country.

What is Nursing Home Abuse?

The CDC says that elder abuse is “an act or failure to act that causes or creates risk of harm to an older adult.”

Let’s look at the types of elder abuse the CDC outlines:

  • Physical Abuse – this occurs when an elderly person experiences pain as a result of physical contact such as kicking, punching, slapping, pushing, burning, etc.
  • Sexual Abuse – this involves any forced or unwanted sexual interaction with an elderly adult.
  • Emotional or Psychological Abuse – this refers to any verbal or nonverbal behaviors that inflict mental pain, distress, or fear in older adults. This can be caused by name calling, destroying property, isolation, and more.
  • Neglect – if an elderly person’s basic needs are not being met, they are experiencing neglect. This includes food, water, hygiene, medical needs, and clothing.
  • Financial Abuse – nursing home staff often has access to residents’ personal financial information and money. Misusing their finances or identity is financial abuse.

In many cases, people who experience abuse are not able to communicate what is happening to them. Other times, they do not report abuse out of fear of retaliation from their abusers. If your loved one is in a nursing home, visit regularly and be on the lookout for unexplained bruises or marks as well as behavioral changes. This could indicate that abuses are taking place.

Contact a Philadelphia Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer if Your Loved One is Being Abused

When you discover your loved one has been abused or neglected at a nursing home, contact law enforcement immediately. After that, seek legal assistance.

Soloff & Zervanos, P.C. is ready to step in and be an advocate for both you and your loved one. We will get to the bottom of what happened and work to secure the compensation you deserve. This can include:

  • Coverage for medical expenses related to the abuse
  • Pain and suffering damages
  • Loss of enjoyment of life damages
  • Relocation expenses
  • Punitive damages against those responsible

If you need a Philadelphia nursing home abuse lawyer, contact us.