Nebraska Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers

Elder Neglect & Abuse in Omaha Nursing Homes

Nursing homes are supposed to be safe environments where your elderly loved ones are cared for better than you could at home. However, terrible things happen in nursing homes everyday. They range from malnutrition, to falls, to medication mistakes, to neglect that causes dramatic bedsores and decubitus ulcers.

Domina Law Group aggressively fights for clients who are the victims, or whose loved ones are victims, of abuse and neglect in nursing homes. assisted living facilities, homes for developmentally-disabled persons, or other places where residents of limited abilities have a right to expect quality care.

How Do I Know If Nursing Home Abuse is Happening?

Nursing home abuse and neglect is so unthinkable, it may be hard to believe it's actually happening to your loved one. Unfortunately, abuse is very common in elderly care facilities. In fact, it's thought that 1 in 10 nursing home residents over the age of 60 is abused.

The following are signs that your loved one may be the victim of nursing home abuse or neglect.

Signs of Nursing Home Abuse

Abuse in any form is inexcusable, but is more common in nursing homes than most would believe. Whether it’s of a physical, sexual, or psychological nature, nursing home abuse is also terribly underreported, as victims often fear fighting back against their abusers.

Common signs of nursing home abuse include:

• Unexplained injuries, bruises, cuts, or broken bones, as well as residents being reluctant to explain how those injuries occurred. This may indicate rough handling when transporting or repositioning residents, force feeding, and administration of medicines, or willful and intentional infliction of harm.
• Sudden or unexplained changes in behavior, including depression, agitation, isolation, fear, anxiety, embarrassment and silence.
• Strained or visibly unusual relationships between staff and residents, including fear and anxiousness in the presence of certain staff members.
• A lack of interest or enjoyment in activities or hobbies residents once enjoyed.
• Signs of punishment or retaliation committed by staff, including isolation, bullying, harassment, restraints, and more.
• Failures of staff to respond to complaints and appropriately handle allegations of abuse, including physical and sexual abuse.

Signs of Nursing Home Neglect

Nursing homes and their employees have a legal obligation to take steps which ensure the health and safety of residents. Failure to uphold that obligation often results in negligence that could and should have been prevented – and commonly constitutes a violation of duties to patients.

While signs of neglect may be initially subtle, they can quickly escalate into extreme suffering and serious injuries or death. Knowing the warning signs and taking immediate action to voice concerns is critical.

Common signs that staff may be neglecting residents include:

• Weight loss, malnutrition, and dehydration caused by staff neglecting basic needs for food and water.
• Poor hygiene, unsanitary conditions, infections, bed sores, and other signs of poor personal hygiene that may be caused by neglecting personal care and bathing, or failing to rotate a resident.
• Failures to properly address and treat injuries, including those resulting from falls, abuse, and pre-existing neglect.
• Worsening of medical condition symptoms or adverse health effects caused by medication errors, failures to monitor resident health, and other staffing errors.
• Unexplained falls, accidents, or repeated avoidable incidents and mishaps that may indicate a lack of supervision, assistance, and appropriate care.
• Decreased mobility which may be result from a lack of assistance, staffing problems, and more.
• Behavioral changes, depression, isolation, and other signs that suggest a resident’s emotional needs are being neglected.

Signs of Financial Abuse

Elder financial abuse committed by staff or fellow residents is common in nursing homes. While capitalizing on trust or taking advantage of vulnerability for financial gain may be a crime – no criminal case provides a viable source of compensation to victims and their families for all their suffering and damages. Victims and their loved ones must pursue civil litigation when they suspect or know financial exploitation has occurred.

Common signs of financial abuse involving the elderly or disabled include:

• Unauthorized cashing of residents’ checks
• Forging a resident’s signature
• Coercing or deceiving residents to sign financial documents
• Sudden and unexplained money or asset transfers, transactions, changes to wills, and bank account withdrawals
• Living conditions below the financial resources of a resident
• Lost jewelry, collections, and other valuables

Nursing Home Abuse FAQ