PA Nursing Home Neglect & Abuse Attorneys
According to the American Psychological Association, an estimated 2.1 million elderly Americans are victims of physical, emotional, or other forms of neglect or abuse every year. Whatever the form, neglect and abuse of nursing home residents must be stopped. Unfortunately, these victims often cannot speak out against the people who harm or neglect them. Statistics compiled by the National Center on Elder Abuse estimate that only one in five cases of elder abuse or neglect are reported. Thus, it is crucial to report any suspicions that you might have that abuse or neglect is occurring.
For more information on how to identify abuse, please visit our Nursing Home Abuse: Signs & Symptoms page.
There are numerous laws governing the safety of nursing home patients. One of the most important concerns nursing homes that receive federal funds through Medicare or Medicaid. Those that do must follow certain federal laws that demand a high quality of care. The federal laws require that such nursing homes:
- Have a sufficient staff of nurses.
- Assess a patient's functional capacity no more than 14 days after admission and no less than once every 12 months thereafter.
- Prevent the deterioration of a patient's ability to perform basic life functions such as bathing, dressing, grooming, eating, and communicating.
- Ensure that patients receive proper treatment and assistive devices to maintain good vision and hearing.
- Maintain patients’ proper nutrition and hydration.
- Ensure that patients are free of significant medication errors.
- Maintain proper clinical records in accordance with professional standards.
The tragic truth is that the nursing home industry, for the most part, operates as a business – and our elderly loved ones are often housed at the lowest possible cost. In some instances, this means:
- Minimal or inadequate qualifications among staff members.
- Inadequate staffing.
- Insufficient training.
- Low wages and high turnover.
The result of those cost-cutting measures is serious and even life-threatening problems for nursing home residents. Signs may include pressure sores, malnutrition, dehydration, and even starvation.
If you believe a loved one is a victim of nursing home neglect or abuse, speak with a PA nursing home neglect lawyer today at Munley, Munley, & Cartwright. We have offices conveniently located in Scranton, Stroudsburg, Carbondale, Plains, Hazleton, Harrisburg and Hamlin. Please call us at (800) 318-LAW1 or contact us online. Our Pennsylvania Elder Abuse attorneys are here to answer your questions and discuss how to protect your legal rights.
Our goal is to provide exceptional legal services to our clients. We strive to achieve the highest standard of excellence for the protection of individual rights through teamwork and the use of our considerable resources and experience.
