Sharpsburg Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

Reliable Maryland Attorney Addressing Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect in Sharpsburg, MD

When it becomes apparent that your elderly loved one can no longer support themselves alone, the care offered by a nursing home can provide you with some peace of mind. Unfortunately, not all nursing homes are equipped to meet the needs of their residents, and some patients may suffer from neglect and even instances of intentional abuse. If your loved one is being mistreated in an elder care facility, a nursing home abuse lawyer can help your family get justice.

At Serafini Law, we are here to help victims of nursing home abuse and neglect in Sharpsburg. As a solo practitioner, Attorney Andrew Serafini personally handles every case that comes to his office, so you can rest assured knowing that your claim will be handled by an experienced professional.

Neglect in Nursing Homes

When nursing homes lack the resources to take care of their residents, serious injuries and adverse health conditions can arise from neglect. For instance, falls in nursing homes are often caused by a staff member trying to lift a resident without assistance, and these incidents can result in fractures, head injuries, and other serious health conditions. When visiting your loved one in a nursing home, you should look out for bedsores, which are painful ulcers caused by long periods of lying down in the same position. The presence of bedsores may indicate that your loved one is not receiving the proper care and attention.

Neglect can also take more subtle forms in nursing homes, malnutrition being one such example. If staff members fail to provide proper meals, a resident's health may begin to waste away, and they may experience issues such as weight loss, poor skin condition, and chronic fatigue. If you suspect that neglect is occurring in a nursing home, our attorney can investigate the facility on your behalf and help address the harm your loved one has suffered.

Abuse in Nursing Homes

In many cases, nursing home abuse occurs when there are no other witnesses around, making it difficult for residents to speak up for themselves. Examples of abuse perpetuated by staff members may include:

• Striking, slapping, or roughly handling a resident
• Isolating a resident from visitors or other people
• Threatening to withhold meals
• Manipulating a resident through guilt
• Belittling, humiliating, or shouting at a resident
• Sexually assaulting a resident

Unexplained welts, bruises, or fractures on your loved one may indicate physical abuse. You should also make note of any strange reactions or outbursts—do they seem to flinch at contact, or have they expressed fear about a particular staff member? Similarly, if your loved one expresses suicidal thoughts or engages in self-harm, it could be a sign that abuse is occurring at the facility.

Abuse by the staff can often be traced back to negligence by upper management. For instance, inadequate staffing can lead to overworked employees who vent their frustrations against the residents. In other cases, a facility may not properly screen new hires or run background checks, which can pose a security risk to residents.

Meet With a Sharpsburg, Maryland Nursing Home Neglect Attorney

The image a nursing home presents to the public and the conditions behind closed doors can be wildly different. If you have reason to believe that your elderly relative is being abused or neglected, our skilled Sharpsburg nursing home injury attorney can help you compile evidence and take action against the negligent parties.

At Serafini Law, we know just how devastating nursing home mistreatment can be. To get justice for your loved one and bring closure to your family, we can help you file a comprehensive claim for compensation. Attorney Andrew Serafini has over a decade of legal experience, and in one notable case, he helped a client recover $850,000 in a nursing home abuse verdict. For a free consultation, call our offices at 240-744-1600 or reach out to us online.