Las Vegas Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

Nevada Nursing Home Industry Abuse Statistics

The prevalence of nursing home abuse is a frightening situation; Las Vegas nursing homes are not exempt. Inadequately trained, the poorly-paid staff has exacerbated a serious problem. In Clark County, a report issued by the Aging and Disability Services Division revealed there were 4009 reported cases of elder abuse in a single year.

Nationally, nursing home abuse could be characterized as reaching epidemic proportions. A study cited by the National Center on Elder Abuse revealed elder abuse to affect about 10 percent of elderly persons. As an example, about 47 percent of dementia patients are reported to have been mistreated by their caregivers, with 88.5 percent suffering psychological abuse, 19.7 percent suffering physical abuse, and 29.5 percent suffering neglect.

In fact, 17 percent of all nursing home complaints registered directly involve neglect or abuse.

Signs and Symptoms of Nursing Home Abuse

Over a decade, Nevada’s older population has dramatically increased. Many people living and working in Las Vegas have elderly parents who need professional care. The family searches for a Las Vegas nursing home where a loved one can get proper medical care and nutrition, in a friendly, caring, safe environment. Once a loved one is settled in the nursing home, a decline is observed. Some of the signs that your relative may be a victim of nursing home abuse include:

• Physical Abuse:

  Bruises, welts, scars, fractures, broken eyeglasses, restraint marks on wrists or ankles.

• Emotional abuse:

  A resident flinches, refuses to speak, acts withdrawn or depressed, or exhibits new symptoms such as rocking, sucking, or mumbling or becomes abusive, mimicking the actions of the perpetrator.

• Sexual abuse:
  Bruises around breasts, genitals, bleeding or torn, stained, or bloody underwear.

• Neglect:
  Unusual weight loss, malnutrition, dehydration, bedsores, soiled bedding, and clothing, resident left dirty and unbathed, rough flaky skin.
• Financial exploitation:
  Unexplained withdrawals from bank accounts, personal items missing, suspicious changes in a will, power of attorney, titles, etc., unknown person’s names on bank signature card, depletion of bank accounts.
• Medication abuse:
  Evidence that a relative has been consistently overmedicated due to lack of response, continual sleeping, grogginess, or resident has not been given prescribed medication on the correct schedule and is missing dosages.

To learn more, here are the top 10 red flags for nursing home neglect.

Nursing Home Abuse in Las Vegas: Taking Legal Action

Contact an experienced Las Vegas nursing home abuse attorney at J. Cogburn Law if you see signs that your loved one is a victim of nursing home abuse. Unfortunately, some nursing home abuse cases have led to the untimely death of an elderly resident, while others suffer medical emergencies requiring hospitalization. If you have concerns about the condition of your family member, speak directly to the nursing home management staff. In more dangerous cases, where a family member is at imminent risk of injury or is suffering a serious illness, contact emergency services. File a report to the state agency and connect with our legal team at J. Cogburn Law in Las Vegas.

How J. Cogburn Law Can Help Elderly Victims

Our elderly family members have lived a productive life; many have served in the military, raised children, built businesses, and worked for a lifetime in countless other professions. They deserve to be treated with kindness, respect, and compassion. While it is sad to see a cognitive decline in a family member or watch health deteriorate, families want the best for them as they live out their final years.

At J. Cogburn Law, we are dedicated to protecting the rights of elderly Las Vegas residents. If your loved one has been the victim of abuse or neglect while living in an assisted care facility or nursing home, we are here to help you seek justice. Those that take advantage of the elderly must be held accountable and brought to justice.

Document what you see with photos and notes, along with the dates. Ask for the names of the staff on duty at the time you observed the signs of abuse. Contact a Las Vegas nursing home abuse attorney at J. Cogburn Law and speak with us about filing a claim against the negligent nursing home. We take our duty to our clients seriously; we are dedicated to protecting the rights of elderly persons in nursing homes. Our services are provided to our clients on a contingency fee basis, with no legal fees paid unless we recover compensation.

Wrongful Death Or Survival Actions In A Nursing Home Case

You may not know which lawsuit to pursue under the unfortunate death of a loved one due to someone else’s negligence. To learn more about these two, please read here. It is important to note what action you will want to pursue. If you’re still unsure please call us immediately. Our team would be happy to sit down and talk you through your options.