Oakland Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys
Abuse and neglect in nursing homes in an epidemic problem in California. More than one-third of the more than 1,200 nursing homes in California have been cited for "serious or potentially life-threatening" problems. Nursing home abuse may be physical, emotional, financial, or even sexual. The Oakland personal injury attorneys at Estey Bomberger fight to protect the rights of elderly seniors and their families who are victims of neglect or abuse at a nursing home, residential living facility, or skilled nursing facility.
Nursing Home Neglect
The failure to provide basic living necessities such as food and water, medication, clothing, and personal hygiene may constitute neglect. A nursing home may be liable for injuries to an elderly person who is not properly supervised or attended to. Elderly people are often very frail, and may need assistance walking, getting out of bed, or going to the bathroom. The failure of a nursing home employee to provide assistance, resulting in an elderly person falling and suffering serious injury, may make a nursing home liable for an elderly person's injury.
Physical Abuse In Nursing Homes
Physical abuse consists of anything one person does to another to inflict physical pain. Examples include, hitting, beating, punching, slapping, pushing, pinching, or shaking. Abuse may also include overmedicating, or undermedicating, or using physical restraints when not necessary or authorized. If your loved one suffered unexplained injuries, or has visible wounds, cuts, bruises, or welts, you should report the abuse to the following:
- Your County Adult Protective Services (APS) agency
- The California Department of Health Services (DHS)
- The Long-Term Care Ombudsman's Office of the California Department of Aging
- The California Attorney General Bureau of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse.
You may also contact the Attorney General's office through their toll-free hotline at (800) 722-0432, or contact your local law enforcement agency.
Financial Abuse: Embezzlement and Theft
Elderly adults with physical or mental difficulties may fall victim to financial abuse. Many seniors are unaware of the value of their personal property, and may leave valuable jewelry in places where it could be easily taken. Examples of financial abuse may include a staff member or caregiver stealing a resident's checkbook or personal property, or pressuring an elderly person to alter their will, deed, trust, or power of attorney. Other examples of financial abuse include:
- Using deception to gain an elderly person's confidence
- Forging an elderly person's signature
- Promising lifelong care in exchange for money and not following through.
- Professing love for an elderly person ("sweetheart scams")
- Overcharging for services
- Using other deceptive or unfair business practices.
Protect Your Legal Rights
If you suspect (or know) that a loved one is a victim of neglect or abuse, contact an Oakland nursing home abuse lawyer at Estey Bomberger today. We represent clients in Oakland, the Bay Area, and throughout northern California. Our Oakland elder abuse attorneys are available 24 hours a day to discuss your case, answer your questions, and explain your legal options. If we handle your claim, we will not charge any fees for our services unless and until we recover money for you.