Youngstown Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

Thousands of families in the Youngstown area and throughout Ohio trust nursing homes to care for elderly loved ones, but too often these facilities fail in their duties to keep residents safe and healthy. If you believe your elderly family member has been abused in their nursing home, it is imperative that you consult a Youngstown nursing home abuse lawyer at your first opportunity. You need legal counsel you trust to ensure accountability.

Experienced Legal Counsel for Nursing Home Abuse Cases in Youngstown, OH

The team at Rumizen Weisman Attorneys has a strong record of successful verdicts and settlements for clients in the Youngstown area, and we have proven experience handling a wide variety of personal injury cases. With more than 250 jury trials and more than 10,000 successful settlements behind us, we are confident we can help you reach a positive conclusion to a difficult nursing home abuse case.

The US Census for 2023 reports a relatively small elderly population in Youngstown. There are about 8,000 residents between the ages of 60 and 69, more than 4,000 residents between the ages of 70 and 79, and more than 2,500 residents over the age of 80. Nursing homes and assisted living facilities in the area have a vital and important job, and failure to meet their responsibilities to their residents can have devastating effects.

It can be very difficult to confront any nursing home abuse case. The family of the victim may not immediately recognize the signs of abuse or neglect, and once they do confirm that this is happening, it can be an incredibly stressful and frustrating experience. They must not only remove the victim from their dangerous environment but also hire a nursing home abuse lawyer right away who can help them pursue accountability and compensation for damages.

Building a Nursing Home Abuse Case in Youngstown

If you visit an elderly family member in a nursing home, it is important to know the signs of abuse and neglect and to pay close attention to their living space and their surroundings. Nursing homes must ensure all residents have clean clothes, bedding, living spaces, and access to restroom facilities. They are also required to ensure all residents take all necessary medications correctly and on time and to provide medical assistance when needed.

If you notice that your loved one has a dirty bed or living area, it is unacceptable and could be a sign of neglect. If they appear withdrawn, afraid, frustrated, or distant, these could be emotional responses to abuse. It’s possible for nursing home abuse to occur in many ways, from intentional physical abuse to emotional, verbal, or even sexual abuse. Some nursing home residents are also financially exploited by their caregivers through fraud.

When your loved one has unexplained injuries or if their health takes a sudden and unexpected downturn, it is crucial to investigate these matters immediately. The nursing home should have detailed incident reports whenever unexpected falls or other accidents occur, and it must also maintain medical records for every resident.

Some other clear indications that your elderly loved one is in an unsafe situation include:

• Malnutrition and dehydration, which can be fatal if they consistently happen. Nursing home staff must account for individual residents’ dietary requirements and verify that they receive adequate food and clean water.
• Bedsores, which can form when bedridden residents are not regularly repositioned. Bedsores can progress rapidly and cause a host of serious medical concerns if left unchecked. Bedsores or pressure ulcers could become infected and be life-threatening in some cases.
• Sudden changes in the resident’s behavior. They may be afraid to speak up about the abuse they have suffered out of fear of their abuser.
• Any unexplained decline in their health. While it’s common for elderly people to struggle with various complex medical issues, a sudden decline could be a response to abuse or neglect.

If you suspect that abuse or neglect has occurred, you need to hire a nursing home abuse lawyer right away. Your Youngstown nursing home abuse lawyer at Rumizen Weisman Attorneys can gather the evidence you need to firmly establish liability for your loved one’s condition. The defendant and their employer could face liability for damages, and it is also possible for them to face additional penalties depending on the scope and severity of their behavior.

Recovering Compensation for Nursing Home Abuse in Youngstown

A personal injury case is a civil claim for damages in which an injured plaintiff seeks compensation for the losses they suffered because of a defendant’s negligence or misconduct. Nursing home abuse cases can potentially lead to criminal charges against the defendant who abused the victim, and it is also possible for the nursing home organization to face fines and other penalties. However, a civil claim is necessary for the plaintiff to recover compensation.

Your Youngstown nursing home abuse lawyer can potentially help you and your family recover compensation for various economic damages. For example, you may have grounds to claim compensation for any additional medical expenses incurred to treat the effects of the abuse or neglect the victim experienced. If you or other family members were forced to take time off work to deal with this situation, it is also possible to claim compensation for lost income.

Your attorney may be able to help you recover compensation for any additional expenses your family has incurred, and a personal injury plaintiff also has the right to claim pain and suffering compensation that reflects the severity of their experience. Ohio limits pain and suffering compensation in many personal injury cases, but a plaintiff in a nursing home abuse case may also receive punitive damages at the court’s discretion.

Ultimately, nursing home abuse and neglect cases are challenging in several ways, and the right attorney can be an invaluable asset for the difficult proceedings ahead of you and your family. The team at Rumizen Weisman Attorneys has the experience and skills required to handle the most challenging cases, and we look forward to assisting you with yours. Contact us today and schedule a free consultation with a Youngstown nursing home abuse lawyer.