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Philadelphia Nursing Home Lawyer

Nursing Home Lawyer Philadelphia PA

We trust nursing homes to take good care of the people we love.  Unfortunately, nursing homes do not always deliver the high-quality care that they promise. Serious violations regularly occur in nursing homes and assisted living facilities throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

A Philadelphia nursing home lawyer can help if you suspect that a loved one is being neglected or abused at a nursing home. By speaking up, you could save your loved one from serious harm or death. Financial compensation may be available for the victim’s pain and suffering, mental anguish, medical bills, and other losses.
Don’t wait to speak with a Philadelphia nursing home lawyer about your rights. The Philadelphia nursing home neglect attorneys at the Wieand Law Firm LLC offer a free and confidential legal consultation. Call us at (215) 666-7777 today.

Philadelphia Nursing Home Lawyer

Nursing Home Injury Lawsuits

Nursing homes have a duty to keep residents safe from avoidable harm. Sadly, this does not always happen.  A nursing home injury lawyer at the Wieand Law Firm can fight for the rights of elderly residents. Trust a Philadelphia nursing home lawyer with experience investigating nursing home injury claims. We handle personal injury and wrongful death cases involving:

Nursing Home Fall Injury Lawyers

Philadelphia Nursing Home LawyerThe most common, avoidable nursing home injuries occur when residents fall at the facility. Nursing home falls are usually preventable with proper care and supervision. A personal injury lawyer can help if your loved one fell and was injured at a nursing home. Some common causes of avoidable falls include:

  • Nursing Home Slip and Fall – Slip and fall accidents often occur because elderly individuals are susceptible to slipping on wet or cluttered floors.  Injuries can happen if spills are not promptly cleaned, if residents are not assisted while bathing or showering, or if mats are not placed by entrances during bad weather.
  • Nursing Home Trip and Fall – Similar to accidental slips, these accidents frequently occur due to debris, hazards, or obstacles on the floor, ramps, or stairs.  To protect residents, nursing homes should monitor seniors and install fall protection devices as necessary.
  • Nursing Home Falls from Chairs or Beds – Nursing home residents who suffer from insomnia, incontinence, cognitive impairments, or chronic pain may frequently get up and wander about the facility.  However, many elderly residents are designated “high fall risks” and cannot move around safely without assistance.  It is the responsibility of nursing home staff to carefully assess each resident’s fall risk and, wherever necessary, create a comprehensive plan to protect them from falling.  Despite this responsibility, it is not unusual for elderly persons to be injured by falling from a mattress or chair.
  • Negligent Supervision – Nursing home residents often need assistance when walking to and from restrooms, dining areas, and throughout the facility.  Understaffing often results in disaster when residents are left to fend for themselves.
  • Negligent or Incorrect Transfers by Staff Members – nursing home residents should have a specific plan of care regarding their transfer status. For some residents, a safe transfer requires the use of a mechanical lift, or for 2 or more staff members to assist. When a facility fails to transfer the resident as specified in the care plan, a serious injury can occur.

The nursing home lawyer Philadelphia will fight to hold facilities accountable for preventable injuries. If a resident is harmed by an avoidable fall, the facility may be held liable for the damages caused.

Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect

Preventable injuries like bedsores and infections are common at nursing homes. To help protect your family members, be on the lookout for warning signs of neglect and abuse in nursing homes. Serious injuries and health issues may result from neglect. A nursing home injury lawyer can help you get compensation for these painful injuries.

Nursing Home Hip Fractures

While anyone can break a bone, seniors are at elevated risk due to decreased bone density, poor balance, and other effects of aging.  Nursing home bone fractures can result from a number of causes that give rise to injury liability, including:

  • Accidental Falls
  • Object Strikes
  • Physical Abuse

Pelvic fractures (hip fractures) are especially common.  According to CDC data, more than 95% of hip fractures among adults aged 65 and older are caused by falling.  The CDC also reports that roughly one in five falls among seniors will cause a bone fracture or other serious injury, such as a traumatic brain injury.
All bone fractures are cause for concern, but a broken hip in a nursing home can place an elderly person’s health in extreme jeopardy.  The following quote is excerpted from a study published in the peer-reviewed medical journal Geriatric Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation:

“Hip fractures are associated with significant morbidity, mortality, loss of independence, and financial burden.  In usual care, the reported one-year mortality after sustaining a hip fracture has been estimated to be 14% to 58%.” If your family member suffers a hip fracture at a nursing home you should consult a Philadelphia nursing home lawyer immediately.

Nursing Home Bedsores (Pressure Ulcers)

Nursing home bedsore attorneys know how horrifying these pressure wounds can be. It’s important for concerned family members to understand that bedsores, also called pressure ulcers or decubitus ulcers, are not a natural product of aging. On the contrary, they are usually preventable if proper care is taken by the nursing home.  The development of bedsores often indicates nursing home negligence.

Bedsores can be caused when nursing staff fails to regularly reposition a resident who requires assistance with bed or chair mobility. Repositioning is necessary to alleviate pressure and encourage a healthy flow of oxygen throughout the body.

Bedsore can develop in a matter of months or even weeks.  They are typically located on bony areas of the body, such as the wrists and ankles, but can also develop on the back, buttocks, neck, legs, heels, or any other part of the body that is in constant contact with the mattress beneath.

If a bedsore is not treated in its early stages, it can result in bone infections, joint infections, and skin infections called cellulitis, all of which can lead to complications of their own.  In extreme cases, a pressure ulcer can even cause sepsis, a rapidly progressing, life-threatening condition which can cause organ failure.
A nursing home bedsore attorney can help if your loved one has developed painful bedsore or pressure sore at a nursing home.

Over-medicating Nursing Home Residents and Dosage Errors

Most seniors who reside in nursing homes depend on at least one prescription medication.  However, while prescription drugs are vital to managing serious health conditions like heart disease and arthritis, medication can cause more harm than it prevents when administered in excessive doses, or dangerously mixed with other medications.

Sadly, it is not unheard of for nursing home staff members to overmedicate residents or administer unnecessary sedation for the sake of staff convenience.  In other cases, medication errors result from careless acts of negligence, like sloppy, incomplete record-keeping, or inattention to residents’ medical records. Either way, overmedicating residents is a violation of resident’s rights.

A Philadelphia nursing home lawyer can help determine if your loved one was overmedicated. Overmedicating residents in nursing homes may be grounds for a claim or lawsuit if used to sedate restless residents, or if it causes serious injury or death.  Some medications can have debilitating side effects when taken not as directed, including:

  • Cardiac Arrest
  • Coma
  • Hallucinations
  • Seizures
  • Failure to Thrive

Nursing Home Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse is, sadly, another common form of abuse in senior care settings.  Since feelings of shame and fear keep many seniors from speaking out about victimization, it’s crucial to be as vigilant and supportive as possible, so that your loved one feels safe about opening up and getting help.

Call a Philadelphia nursing home abuse lawyer if you suspect a loved one has been sexually abused. If your loved one is suffering sexual abuse in a nursing home, he or she may seem unusually agitated, fearful, apathetic, or depressed.  Other red flags include soiled or torn undergarments and bruising around the thighs, lower stomach, buttocks, and/or genital area.

Improper Care for Diabetes and Infections

Even for a young person in peak health, an infection can be a serious problem that sometimes requires an aggressive course of treatment with powerful antibiotics.  Because elderly people often have compromised immune systems, aggressive management of infections and illnesses is even more critical.

A Philadelphia nursing home lawyer can help you determine if the infection was caused by neglect or malpractice.  Diabetes patients are at an increased risk of developing infections and infectious diseases, especially foot infections.  If diabetes is poorly managed because of neglect or malpractice, an otherwise avoidable foot amputation or leg amputation may become necessary.

Dehydration and Malnourishment in Nursing Homes

Severe, prolonged undernourishment or malnutrition can have devastating health consequences, especially when the victim is already suffering from an underlying medical issue, as is true of many nursing home residents.

State laws create mandatory nutritional standards for nursing homes and other elder care facilities. A nursing home attorney can help you determine if there are grounds for a lawsuit for malnutrition that causes illness or death.

Like malnutrition, dehydration can also have serious negative effects.  When a person is severely dehydrated, he or she might experience delirium, low blood pressure, fever or unconsciousness.

Contact Philadelphia Nursing Home Lawyer Brent Wieand

Nursing Home Under-staffing

Under-staffing and neglect are often to blame for these problems.  Many residents need physical assistance holding glasses, cutting up food, and feeding themselves. In other cases, seniors with cognitive disorders require encouragement and help.  If individualized attention is not provided to at-risk residents at mealtime, malnutrition and dehydration are almost sure to follow.

Adequate staffing is vital to resident safety.  When facilities do not hire enough staff members, there are more opportunities for neglected residents to wander around and get hurt inside the facility, or even wander off the premises completely. A Philadelphia nursing home lawyer can hold the nursing home accountable if it understaffs a faculty to increase profit.

Resident elopements occur when a resident wanders away from a designated resident area without staff oversight. Elopements can occur within a nursing home; for example, if a resident wanders off and becomes locked inside a janitorial closet without a staff member’s knowledge.

Some of the most dangerous elopements occur when a resident wanders away from the nursing home. If a resident is suffering from a cognitive impairment such as dementia, he or she is at a very high risk of being assaulted, mugged, hit by a car, or succumbing to hypothermia or hyperthermia after becoming lost.  Whether or not an elopement occurs on premises or off-premises, lack of supervision can result in serious harm or wrongful death.

Nursing Home Wrongful Death Lawyer in PA

Wrongful death is a preventable death that occurs because a business or individual doesn’t take the normal, appropriate precautions that would be expected considering the circumstances.  For example, if a nursing home resident is killed in a fatal slip and fall accident, the death could be considered wrongful if the slip and fall were caused by a preventable issue like substandard property maintenance, or lack of supervision of residents.

Not everyone has the legal authority to bring an action on behalf of a wrongful death victim.  The plaintiff usually must be a beneficiary or representative of the decedent’s estate.  An attorney can help you determine who has the legal capacity to bring a wrongful death claim and set up an estate. If a claim for wrongful death is successful, any compensation awarded will either be distributed according to the decedent’s will or among relatives as determined under the state’s intestacy law.

Nursing Home Malpractice Claims

Nursing home malpractice is “medical malpractice” that occurs at a long-term care facility. A nursing home malpractice claim arises when a medical professional breaches the standard of care causing harm to a resident.

The Philadelphia nursing home lawyers at Wieand Law Firm have years of experience litigating these complex matters. Nursing home malpractice claims often hinge on a careful analysis of the resident’s chart, independent investigation, and expert testimony from medical professionals.  Our nursing home malpractice attorneys understand the complexities that arise in these cases and coordinate with medical experts to see that malpractice claims are investigated thoroughly.

Philadelphia Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer- Wieand Law Firm

Call a Philadelphia nursing home lawyer dedicated to representing victims of nursing home neglect in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.  Our Philadelphia nursing home lawyers understand how devastating nursing home injuries can be, and we take pride in providing strong legal representation to our clients.
For a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation, call the Wieand Law Firm at (215) 666-7777.  We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing up-front and won’t be charged unless we recover money for you.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes.  It is not legal advice and should not be used as legal advice.  The Wieand Law Firm, LLC is based in Philadelphia, PA, and is proud to serve clients throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Philadelphia nursing home lawyers know that reaching the decision to place your loved one into a nursing home is likely not one that you easily made. Watching your elderly loved one decline, unable to care for themselves or remain in their home can be difficult. Sometimes, you may have no other option than to consider a nursing home. Unfortunately, abuse and neglect in nursing homes are commonplace, which ultimately can have a significant impact on your loved one. Taking action quickly will be vital to the well-being and safety of your family member. Wieand Law Firm can provide you with the guidance and support you need by providing you with a nursing home lawyer trusted by Philadelphia, Pennsylvania residents that you can rely on. 

Signs of Nursing Home Abuse

The elderly are considered some of the most vulnerable members of society, especially if they already are in need of nursing home care. Abuse in a nursing home can have a serious impact on an elderly person’s quality of life. Being able to recognize the signs of nursing home abuse can assure that you are able to quickly change their care quickly and take action with a Philadelphia nursing home lawyer as quickly as possible. The following, are signs that nursing home abuse may be present:

  • Your loved one appears agitated or withdrawn
  • You are unable to be alone with your loved one
  • The presence of bed sores
  • Isolation
  • Unexplained injuries
  • Unsanitary conditions
  • Signs of malnutrition
  • +More

You may be reeling from the mistreatment that your loved one has experienced. If you suspect mistreatment, it’s time to take action as soon as possible. Contact a Philadelphia nursing home lawyer at Wieand Law Firm today. 

Philadelphia Nursing Home Law Statistics

The PA Nursing Homes lawyer was developed to show the geospatial locations of nursing homes in Pennsylvania.

  • Pennsylvania has 700 nursing homes with 88,000 beds
  • Nursing homes are 91% occupied (over 80,000 residents)

Wieand Law Firm Can Help

Following suspected nursing home abuse, it can be unclear the appropriate steps to take next. In some situations, it may be appropriate to consider taking legal action. If your loved one has succumbed to abuse in a nursing home, Wieand Law Firm can help to protect the rights of the person who has experienced maltreatment. Our Philadelphia nursing home lawyer can help you by: 

  • Reviewing your case and helping you to take action
  • Providing you with the legal support that you need from an experienced legal professional
  • Helping you gather strong evidence that links your loved one’s injuries to the accident 
  • Assigning fair value for the damages your loved one has experienced
  • Being prepared to take your case to court if necessary
  • Negotiating a settlement in your favor
  • Helping you to understand the legal process that lies ahead

Our firm knows that taking legal action amidst nursing home abuse can be incredibly stressful. Contacting our Philadelphia nursing home lawyer can help you to have a clear picture of the road that lies ahead. 

If your loved one has been harmed due to neglect in a nursing home, it’s only natural to feel consumed by guilt. Let us help you hold the responsible party accountable. Wieand Law Firm, LLC provides you with a Philadelphia nursing home lawyer who is prepared to help you take action. 

If you are trying to find a nursing home lawyer in Philadelphia, many people recommend searching on the internet for a good nursing home law firm Philadelphia, PA nursing home residents and their families can rely on. 

Working with a sepsis in nursing home lawyer Philadelphia PA families turn to for support is the most appropriate way to initiate legal action after your loved one has been impacted by abuse or neglect in a nursing home. Damages from nursing home abuse can include financial loss, physical injuries, emotional distress, medical expenses, and even fatalities. No person wants to see someone they love to experience such harm. Victims and their families can look to a nursing home abuse lawyer for the plethora of questions they have. Fortunately, our team at Wieand Law Firm, LLC, is knowledgeable and available to answer these questions. 

What is sepsis?

Sepsis is a condition that can occur when a person is fighting off an infection. When a person is fighting off an infection, the body is triggered to release chemicals into the bloodstream to help fight it. In some unfortunate situations, instead of healing, inflammation can result, ultimately causing sepsis. Sepsis can cause damage to the organs and can even be life-threatening. 

Is sepsis common in the elderly?

Yes, this is mostly due to a less effective immune system than younger people. People over the age of 65 are 13 times more likely than the younger population to experience hospitalization due to sepsis. According to the NCBI, 63% of elderly patients admitted to the hospital are admitted to the ICU. Chronic disease and even illnesses such as the flu or urinary tract infections can cause sepsis in patients. Because of the serious impact of sepsis, nursing homes must closely monitor and assess patients so that they can take swift action if signs of sepsis are noticed. 

How does sepsis occur in a nursing home?

Sepsis is one of the leading reasons that nursing home residents are transferred to hospitals. Because residents are particularly vulnerable, it may be more difficult for their bodies to fight the infection, and as a result, sepsis may develop. However, our nursing home abuse lawyer in Philadelphia, PA, wants you to know that many of these occurrences are preventable with proper medical care thorough infection prevention. When nursing homes care for individuals, they should uphold the medical standard of care to identify and manage infections. Additionally, it’s recommended that staff use the TIME acronym to ensure that swift medical care is initiated when signs of sepsis occur. TIME is an acronym used for the signs of sepsis, which include temperature, infection, mental decline, and extremely ill. 

How can I obtain medical charts from the nursing home if they are unwilling to hand them over?

When taking legal action, evidence will play a critical role. One of the most powerful pieces of evidence may be the medical charts obtained from the nursing home. Patients and those with power of attorney have a right to medical records. Typically this is as simple as completing a request. However, in some cases, you may experience difficulties obtaining these records, or the process may be too overwhelming to manage. At this point, your lawyer can step in to assist in collecting medical charts for you. 

Managing cases of negligence within nursing homes can be a complicated task. No person should be left to deal with this alone. Victims and their families often feel more confident when they have professionals in your corner like the lawyers at the Wieand Law Firm, LLC. We provide legal counsel with the experience necessary to achieve the best possible outcomes. To learn more, schedule a consultation today with our Philadelphia PA sepsis in nursing home lawyer. 

Finding a Nursing Home Lawyer

In addition to the internet, there are many different ways to find a good Philadelphia nursing home lawyer. These include but are not limited to:

  • Word of mouth
  • Legal aid services
  • Public libraries
  • State bar associations
  • Through professional, peer, and previous client reviews of the law firm where a lawyer works.

Nursing Home Problems

Many people have a tough time accepting the fact that they cannot fully care for a close family member the way they need to be taken care of and that it’s time to find a nursing home that can. Once a family ultimately accepts this, finding a nursing home to entrust their loved one’s care to is the next big task.

Unfortunately, even once a family finds what they think is a good nursing home in Philadelphia, problems can and do occur. Nursing homes do not always provide the level of care that they promise to provide. Sometimes, residents may even suffer from abuse or neglect. Many people recommend contacting a nursing home law firm in PA as soon as a family suspects that their loved one is not being taken care of in their Philadelphia nursing home because the sooner this is done, the sooner a qualified attorney may be able to start protecting your family’s and your loved one’s rights.

For a highly rated nursing home law firm Philadelphia, PA nursing home residents and their families can trust, contact Wieand Law Firm, LLC for a free case consultation with no obligations.

A Philadelphia nursing home lawyer residents trust from Wieand Law Firm, LLC knows that you may be wondering when it is possible to sue a nursing home for negligence. If your loved one was in a nursing home and they were injured because of an action that constitutes neglect, it is very possible that you may have the evidence you need to file a lawsuit. Although it may seem like you have things under control, we recommend you give our office a call to see how we can help you. Our firm specializes in nursing home abuse and neglect cases and our Philadelphia, Pennsylvania nursing home lawyer is here to help you. Give us a call to schedule your consultation. 

I want to file a lawsuit. What should I be looking for regarding the nursing home’s actions?

Our Philadelphia nursing home lawyer understands that there are many factors that come into play when it comes to being legally responsible for harm that occurred to a nursing home resident. Whether an act was intentional or an accident, you may have what you need for a lawsuit. Below, we will provide you with more information regarding certain circumstances that may lead to a nursing home lawsuit. 

  • Improper Medication. The staff members who administer patient medication should be aware of precisely what kind of medication each patient needs, how much to give them, and when to give it. If a staff member failed to give your loved one their medication or accidentally gave them the wrong medication, this may show that the staff member was negligent. 
  • Hazardous Premises. The facility where your loved one resides should be hazard-free and safe. That means that when a staff member is made aware of a danger on the premises, they are obligated to clean it or fix it as quickly as reasonably possible. 
  • Residents Being Unsupervised. If your loved one was harmed because staff members were not supervising them when they were supposed to, it is very likely that you could bring a claim against the nursing home. Our Philadelphia, PA nursing home lawyer can help you with this claim.

If your loved one was injured while staying at a nursing home, you should not be burdened with filing a lawsuit on your own. Instead, work with the attorneys who routinely practice in personal injury law. Call Wieand Law Firm, LLC to speak with our trusted Philadelphia nursing home lawyer now!

Philadelphia Nursing Home Law Infographic

Top Nursing Negligence Infographic

Nursing Home Lawyer Philadelphia

When you find out that your loved one is suffering from bedsores while staying in a nursing home, you should contact a nursing home lawyer, Philadelphia residents count on Wieand Law Firm, LLC. We have had many clients who discovered that their elderly loved ones suffered from neglect because they had developed preventable bedsores while staying in a nursing home. You must give our office a call as soon as possible so that we can begin working on getting your loved ones the compensation they deserve for these injuries. If you are interested in setting up an appointment with our team, please contact our office. 

How do older adults get bedsores?

While bedsore occur most frequently to older adults, people of any age can get bedsores. Also known as pressure ulcers, bedsores frequently occur when an individual is bedridden or remains in a wheelchair for long periods of time without being repositioned. When you place your loved one in a nursing home, a Philadelphia nursing home lawyer knows you rely on the staff to help move your loved one so that they are not in the same position for lengthy periods. However, if staff members fail to reposition residents, a pressure ulcer can occur. Preventable pressure ulcers can constitute a form of neglect. Bedsores that are not properly treated can worsen and even become severely infected. Nursing home staff members should know how to:

  • Safely reposition an elderly person
  • Position a resident in a manner that will be least likely to cause bedsores
  • Maintain the environment your loved one is in and keep it clean
  • Know the signs of a person who is at a high risk for developing bedsores so they can monitor them more closely

What can I do when I find bedsores on my loved one?

When you discover that your loved one has been neglected and is not getting the care they need, you should immediately reach out for legal help. Bedsores can indicate that your loved one has been neglected. To see how a trusted Philadelphia nursing home lawyer, can help you and your family, contact Wieand Law Firm, LLC, now. 

Protecting Your Loved One From Further Abuse

Our nursing home lawyer Philadelphia PA has spoken to many families who share that one of the harsh realities of nursing home abuse is that many cases often go unreported. An aging person in a nursing home may be unable to speak out about the abuse, or they may fear that retaliation will occur if they do. There are many ways that someone may experience abuse in a nursing home. Unfortunately, when abuse goes unreported, victims stand to face severe and even life-threatening injuries. If your loved one has suffered harm in a nursing home, you may be able to take legal action for the damages your family member has suffered. We can assist you in gathering evidence and building a case against the responsible party. Prevent further abuse from happening by taking action and scheduling a consultation with Wieand Law Firm, LLC. 

Types of Nursing Home Injuries

Nursing homes face several challenges to provide adequate care to residents. Unfortunately, today, many nursing homes are facing a variety of challenges that impact their ability to do so. Some nursing homes employ underpaid and under-qualified staff. As a result, these facilities often face understaffing, which further affects residents’ ability to receive the care they deserve. Often, some of these challenges can be attributed to nursing home mismanagement and, as a result, there is a wide range of injuries that can occur from abuse, including:

  • Bedsores
  • Falls
  • Head Injuries
  • Broken Bones
  • Malnutrition
  • Infections
  • Choking
  • +More

The list is endless. Our Philadelphia nursing home lawyer stresses how important it is to take action if your loved one has been injured in a nursing home. It’s critical to make sure that they are safe from further abuse before moving forward. 

How to Prevent Further Abuse

While it may seem obvious, it may be in your interest to find a facility to provide your loved ones with the care that they deserve. To prevent future abuse, the family of a loved one in a nursing home should keep the following in mind:

  • Be able to recognize signs of abuse and neglect in a nursing home
  • If there is a problem, report it immediately
  • Regularly visit or call your loved one
  • Keep them engaged in their community
  • Conduct extensive research into prospective nursing homes for inspection reports and possible violations

When someone that you love is a resident in a nursing home, you will want them to receive the care possible. To ensure that this is the case, families should take an active role in their care by having an understanding of nursing home abuse and taking action if there is a problem. 

Schedule a Consultation with Our Firm

We are dedicated to helping clients who have suffered at the hands of nursing home abuse. During this challenging time, the idea of taking legal action may be difficult. But your family member deserves to receive the compensation they are entitled to for their losses. To get started, you may take advantage of our firm’s complementary consultation. A consultation can provide families and victims with a clear direction for how the case should be managed legally. We will take the time to review your case, answer any questions you may have, and provide you with guidance on how to move forward. 

Get the help you deserve today with our Philadelphia nursing home lawyer at Wieand Law Firm, LLC. 

Wieand Law Firm, LLC knows that if you are concerned about elder abuse or elder neglect in your loved one’s nursing home, you should reach out to our PA nursing home lawyers as soon as possible. Elder abuse or neglect does not always present as obvious physical abuse. You may not see abuse take the form of bruises or broken bones. Instead, your loved one may not be getting the medical care and attention they deserve or they may not be living in reasonable, clean conditions. If you are concerned that this is the case, please call our nursing home lawyers in Pennsylvania today. We want to make sure your loved one gets the compensation they deserve.

What form does elder abuse take?

As noted above, elder abuse is not necessarily physical abuse. Elderly people are more at risk for different types of abuse and neglect because they are particularly vulnerable and may be unable to defend themselves. There are multiple ways that a staff member at a nursing home could be abusing your loved one:

  • Physical abuse
  • Emotional abuse
  • Sexual abuse
  • Financial abuse
  • Neglect
  • Abandonment

What does it mean for someone in a nursing home to neglect a loved one?

Our nursing home lawyers in PA know that abuse can come in the form of neglect. This occurs when their caregiver at the nursing home does not live up to the standards in place for taking care of their loved one. Your loved one has certain needs that must be met and because they are likely unable to meet those needs themselves, their caregiver must on their behalf. 

For example, your loved one needs the basics: food, water, a safe place to live, and proper hygiene. Depending on their condition, our PA nursing home lawyers know that they may not be able to take care of themselves. Thus, if their caregiver fails to provide them with any of these basic needs, we would argue that neglect has occurred.

Speak With Our Office Today!

We understand the great emotional impact that occurs when when someone you trusted injured your elderly loved one or put their life in danger. We want to help make things right. For more information on how our PA nursing home lawyers can help you and your loved one when they are being abused or neglected in a nursing home, please call Wieand Law Firm, LLC. 

PA Nursing Home AttorneysWhen you need the help of PA nursing home attorneys, reach out to Wieand Law Firm, LLC. You may not suspect that there will be any problem when you place your loved one in a nursing home. You are doing it because you want them to get the care they need from people who are equipped to help. However, you may not have realized that 10% of people who reside in nursing homes fall prey to nursing home abuse in some form. When this is the case, what can you do? Our attorneys want you to know that if you begin noticing signs of neglect or abuse, you should not have to take this on alone. Below, we will discuss some of the most common signs that your loved one may be abused and how we can help.  

Looking For Warning Signs

When you suspect that there may be abuse, our PA nursing home attorneys share that there are some warning signs to look for:

Physical Abuse

  • Your loved one suddenly has unexplained injuries that they cannot explain like burns, bruises, or broken bones.

Emotional Abuse

  • The caregiver who is taking care of your loved one is uncaring or verbally rude.
  • The caregiver at the nursing home does not allow people to visit your loved one. 
  • Your loved one suddenly appears to have behavioral changes.

Financial Abuse

  • Your loved one suddenly gives their caretaker power over their finances.
  • Your loved one begins giving gifts to their caretaker or other non-family members.
  • Your loved one is suddenly unable to pay their bills. 

Sexual Abuse

  • Your loved one suddenly has unexplained sexually transmitted diseases or illnesses.
  • Your loved one has cuts, bruises, swelling, or other types of trauma near their genitals.

Neglect

  • Your loved one’s caretaker did not administer their medication properly.
  • Your loved one has not received proper food or water.
  • Your loved one has bedsores.
  • Your loved one is not living in a hygienic situation. 

Get Help From Our PA Nursing Home Attorneys! 

If you believe your loved one is suffering from abuse by a caretaker at their nursing home, call Wieand Law Firm, LLC.

How To Talk With Loved Ones When You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse

Nursing home abuse is always disturbing. It’s something we cannot imagine those we love enduring. When abuse occurs, a lawsuit is usually the reasonable response. Before contacting one of the fine PA nursing home attorneys in your area, you want affirmation that your suspicions are indeed occurring. Here are some questions to ask your relative that can shine a light on your concerns.

Are You Being Fed and Bathed?   

Residents of nursing homes need daily care. That includes being washed and provided with reasonable nutrition. Denying these necessities is a severe dereliction of duty, one that may require the services of Wieland Law Firm for exacting justice. This question is particularly relevant if the person you’re visiting is growing emaciated or always appears in the same, dirty clothes.

Are You Being Threatened?   

Since they’re older individuals, residents of nursing homes tend to be frail. Unscrupulous staff members may perceive this as an opportunity to exert power. Such workers might make demands on patients that are unreasonable or even frightening. Sexual abuse is another possibility. These types of ethical breaches are unacceptable. Be mindful, though, that bruising is not always evidence of abuse. Once we pass a certain age, even light bumps can cause marks that would not have appeared when we were younger. However, if the response to your query indicates mistreatment, enlist the assistance of professional PA nursing home attorneys to conduct additional research.

Are You Socializing? 

Human beings are social creatures. Isolation for extended periods is akin to torture. When we place family members in nursing homes, we have certain expectations. We imagine them conversing with peers, playing games, and enjoying the occasional outing. Sadly, this isn’t always the case. Employees of subpar nursing homes refuse to accommodate their need for interaction. Enlist the aid of the legal eagles at Wieand Law Firm to put a stop to such mistreatment.

Are You Able To Talk Freely? 

Pay attention to whether the patient you’re seeing is reluctant to discuss certain subjects. Hesitation to speak may be an indication that abuse is present. If you experience resistance toward opening up about an important topic, gently press the matter. With persistence, you may gain access to valuable information that bolsters your accusation.

The right questions have the potential to shed light on whether your loved one is experiencing abuse. If your queries produce suspicion, let the guidance of PA nursing home attorneys inform your next step.

4 Ways a Nursing Home Attorney Might Help You

Assisted living facilities for elderly people have become quite commonplace in cities throughout the United States. When it comes to our older relatives, we do expect quality care for them, but money can become a complicated issue. For families that have relatives living in a nursing home or similar housing arrangement, getting to know some good attorneys isn’t a bad idea. Knowing an older family member has the legal protection of a competent attorney helps ensure peace of mind. In case a situation occurs with an assisted living facility, here are some areas an attorney could possibly help with.

1. Protection Against Negligence 

Unfortunately, negligence occurs more often than it should in these facilities. Nursing homes have regulations against abuse and neglect, but it sadly is a reality in many nursing homes. An attorney like one from Wieand Law Firm recommends contacting the facility directly and arranging a meeting with the administration. If things are not resolved, PA nursing home attorneys are ready to take matters to court.

2. Protection Against Unfair Treatment 

It doesn’t seem like it would happen, but some elderly residents are treated with prejudice, and staff treatment towards them is unfair when compared to other residents. Unfair treatment is against regulations and does not promote a healthy environment for vulnerable citizens. Discrimination is unacceptable, and it may also break the law. Bring any recorded documentation of this behavior to the attention of PA nursing home attorneys and they can provide your legal options to address the issue.

3. Protection Against Abuse

Elderly abuse is something that does happen in these assisted living retirement communities. It’s shocking to think this might be happening to a loved one. Hopefully, you never need to engage the help of PA nursing home attorneys, but if you find evidence of abuse, seek legal help. An attorney, like one from Wieand Law Firm, can investigate the legal details of your case and build a unique strategy to help achieve a favorable outcome.

4. Protection Against Other Residents

Assisted living facilities and nursing homes provide communal areas to promote social activity among multiple residents. In the event that a resident is being bullied or picked on, or feels threatened by another resident of the facility, engaging the help of PA nursing home attorneys could be a solution. An attorney might be able to schedule a meeting with staff at the facility and push for remediation.

Protecting Your Loved One from Further Abuse

Our PA nursing home attorneys have witnessed firsthand the devastation that comes from nursing home abuse. There is nothing more troubling and painful than learning that your loved one has been treated poorly in a nursing home, especially if they have suffered injuries due to this poor care. Take action now to protect your loved one from additional harm. The first step is documenting everything and gathering as much evidence as possible. Another critical step to take will be finding a lawyer you can trust, like attorneys from the Wieand Law Firm LLC. Initiate the process of holding the negligent nursing home accountable by preparing for and scheduling a consultation with our team. 

Document As Much As Possible

The documentation that you gather will play an essential role in proving your case should legal action be needed. Take the time to write down everything, including dates you visited, observations you made, and more. This should begin as soon as you suspect that there may be a problem and should include:

  • Dates of suspected abuse, specify whether there were witnesses, a description of what happened and whether medical care was required
  • Talk to a family who visits your loved one and ask that they also document their information as well
  • Take pictures and videos that capture unsanitary living conditions, bedding, bruises or injuries, and more
  • Keep a record of anytime you notified the administration of your concerns
  • Gather medical documentation

Our Pennsylvania nursing home attorney shares that taking the initiative to gather information as early on as possible will play a key role in developing a timeline and essentially proving that negligence was a factor. We can assist you in the process of taking this critical step. 

Finding a Lawyer You Can Trust

One of the most important steps to take when considering legal action is to take the time to locate an experienced lawyer in your area that you can trust. It’s important to take the time to identify a lawyer who has experience in nursing home abuse and negligence claims. Taking the time to carefully research local law firms can ensure that you are capable of hands. Start by:

  • Conducting a basic Internet search
  • Reading online reviews
  • Asking people you know for recommendations
  • Asking the lawyer for the track record and legal experience
  • Scheduling a consultation with prospective law firms
  • Asking for information regarding their fee structure

Look for a lawyer in your area that is competent in personal injury litigation. After experiencing an event as devastating as nursing home abuse, you want a lawyer that you can rely on who is knowledgeable about nursing home operations and regulations. 

How to Find the Best Nursing Home Attorney

Incidents of elder abuse or neglect are heartbreakingly common. Because so many cases of elder abuse and neglect are unreported, it’s difficult to identify the frequency of abuse. Older adults who suffer abuse often experience significant trauma during the incident as well as long-term consequences to both physical and mental health.

The right lawyer can help you present your case and collect the compensation the victim is owed to aid in recovery and prevent future harm. As soon as you suspect abuse, begin to gather evidence and documentation to support your claim and speak with PA nursing home attorneys to find a lawyer you feel comfortable to represent you.

Do an online search to gather some names of potential PA nursing home attorneys. Contact several firms to identify who has the experience and knowledge that you want, and also has a good interpersonal approach with you. 

Ask your family, friends, and even your co-workers if they know of a lawyer that you can contact. Personal recommendations from someone you know are highly useful and normally point you in the direction of someone who you know is trustworthy, since they had success in aiding your friend. 

Determine Reputation and Skill

Listen to the qualities and skillsets mentioned when someone you know gives you a recommendation. Not all lawyers are suited for every type of case. PA nursing home attorneys need to have the experience required in that area of law. 

Read online reviews to get a better sense of the lawyer and their professionalism and personality. You can check out their website for more information about their history and specific education and experience. Once you find a lawyer that you believe could be a good fit, schedule a consultation. 

Prepare for Your Consultation

Have a list of questions ready when you attend the initial meeting. Some ideas include:

  • Do you have a lot of experience with these types of cases?
  • Is my documentation enough to pursue a claim of neglect or abuse?
  • What rights does my loved one have? How can I protect him/her?
  • What types of damages can be collected?
  • What is your availability? When can you begin on my case?
  • What are your fees?

This is the time to determine how well you and the lawyer communicate and if you can trust them with the sensitive information and health of your loved one. Don’t be afraid to speak up and get answers to your questions or concerns that you have before you proceed. 

If all goes well in the consultation and you feel that these are the PA nursing home attorneys best suited to represent your case, then you can proceed with an agreement and get started on filing a claim under their guidance. 

Consultation with the Wieand Law Firm, LLC

Once you have narrowed down your list, please take advantage of the complimentary consultation provided by the Wieand Law Firm, LLC. Keep in mind that you are sure to have several questions during your first meeting, and you will have a limited time to do so. Take the time to put together a list of questions and gather evidence or documentation in support of your case to ensure that your questions are answered. 

To learn more about Wieand Law Firm, LLC, and the services we provide, schedule a consultation with one of our PA nursing home attorneys as soon as possible.

Bedsores Can Be a Sign of Neglect

When families choose a nursing home facility as the place where their elderly loved one will live their last remaining days, they are looking for a place that will provide the highest quality standard of care available. Unfortunately, too many of these businesses are just that – businesses that put profit over the care of patients. This can lead to the family seeking out one of our PA nursing home lawyers.

At Wieand Law Firm, LLC, we have represented many victims and their families who suffered life-threatening and painful bedsores and infections because of the substandard care they were given by nursing homes that were being paid to take care of them. When cases like these happen, our nursing home malpractice lawyers work diligently to get victims the compensation they deserve for their pain and suffering.

What Are Bedsores?

When a person is confined to a bed or wheelchair for extended periods of time, they must be moved frequently in order to prevent pressure ulcers, also referred to as bed sores. Bedsores can be extremely painful and dangerous. Many nursing home patients are unable to move on their own and must rely on nursing home staff to assist them. When bedsores do develop – and they can even in the best of circumstances – they must be treated promptly. If not, they can become infected very easily, causing serious medical complications. These infections can even be fatal.

Bedsores that are already in the late stages when they are discovered – or when serious medical issues have developed – are a sign of nursing home negligence. When a patient is being properly cared for, then the earliest stages of bedsores will be noticed and treated. Nursing home staff who are attentive, and who bathes the patient frequently (where any developing bedsore would be discovered) do not allow patients to develop late-stage bedsores. Nursing home staff who are negligent do allow this to happen. 

In addition to the pain of bedsores, there is also a high risk of infection. Just as in any medical facility, nursing homes are full of all types of bacteria which can enter the open wound of a bedsore and attack the already compromised immune system of an elderly nursing home patient. One of the most common – and most fatal – of these infections is sepsis.

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Tragically, this scenario of neglect plays out time and time again in nursing homes. Our PA nursing home lawyers have represented countless victims and their families who suffered extreme pain and other medical problems because of neglect on the part of the nursing home staff.

If you suspect your family member has suffered mistreatment at the nursing home they reside in, contact Wieand Law Firm, LLC, for help. Our skilled PA nursing home lawyers can discuss the details of your case, as well as the legal options, are that your family may have.

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