Burlington Nursing Home Negligence Attorneys Protecting Vulnerable Seniors
Placing a loved one in a long-term care facility requires immense trust. You expect the home to follow professional standards and treat your family member with dignity. When that duty of care is broken due to staffing shortages or negligent supervision, the results can be life-threatening.
At Tang & Maravelis, P.C., we advocate for families facing the heartbreak of nursing home negligence. We help you hold these facilities accountable for their failures and seek justice for your loved ones.
Recognizing The Indicators Of Elder Neglect
Neglect is often quieter than abuse, but it is just as dangerous. It usually happens when facilities put profits over safety, leading to overwhelmed staff who cannot meet residents’ needs. Common signs include:
- Bedsores/pressure ulcers: These painful wounds often develop when residents are not turned frequently enough.
- Falls and delayed response: These injuries occur when falls go unmonitored, leaving seniors without help for a long time.
- Malnutrition and dehydration: These conditions often point to a failure in basic food and water support or poor mealtime supervision.
- Medication errors: These are dangerous mistakes involving the wrong pills or the wrong doses.
Our legal team investigates facility records and hiring practices to prove that assisted living negligence or poor management led to your loved one’s suffering.
Confronting Forms Of Nursing Home Abuse
Beyond neglect, some residents suffer from intentional harm. Nursing home abuse can take many forms, and identifying the symptoms early is critical for your loved one’s safety. We represent families in cases involving:
- Physical and emotional abuse: Unexplained bruising, broken bones or sudden changes in personality, such as withdrawal or fear of certain staff members
- Financial exploitation: Unauthorized withdrawals or changes to legal documents that suggest a staff member is taking advantage of a senior’s cognitive state
- Infections: Poor hygiene and lack of wound care can lead to preventable sepsis or recurring illnesses
We act immediately to investigate these red flags. This allows us to remove your loved one from harm’s way while holding the facility accountable.
Your Family’s Path To Legal Recourse
Families often ask who has the right to file a claim. Generally, the injured resident or their legal representative – such as a child with power of attorney – can initiate a nursing home negligence lawsuit. A successful claim can recover compensation for medical expenses, the cost of moving to a safer facility and the pain and suffering your loved one endured.
Because the statute of limitations in Massachusetts typically gives you three years to file a personal injury claim, time is of the essence. Acting quickly allows your attorney to secure staffing logs, medical charts and witness statements before they are altered or lost. We manage every legal detail, holding facilities to the highest standards of accountability while you focus on your family’s well-being.
Frequently Asked Questions About Nursing Home Abuse
You must be ready to intervene if your loved one does not receive appropriate care or becomes the victim of caregiver abuse at a nursing home or similar facility. The common questions below can help you understand the situation and when you may need to advocate for your loved one.
What is “resident-to-resident” assault, and can the facility be responsible?
Resident-to-resident assault involves abuse perpetrated by one long-term care resident against another. Resident-to-resident assault can involve physical abuse, emotional and psychological torment or even sexual misconduct.
Nursing homes generally have a responsibility to monitor the conduct of individual residents and the dynamics among residents, including roommates. Proper supervision can also deter many incidents. Failing to address misconduct in its early stages can lead to abuse escalating and causing more serious consequences.
Can I sue a nursing home for negligent hiring, training or supervision?
Yes, your family can potentially take legal action over negligent employment practices at a nursing home. The failure to conduct background checks may result in facilities hiring volatile individuals with a history of violent conduct or drug abuse. Hiring unqualified staff members can also undermine the standard of care at the facility.
Improper training may mean that workers do not understand how to manage residents and meet their daily needs. They may be unfamiliar with safety regulations and may fail to keep facilities adequately safe to minimize the spread of infections and infestations. Negligent supervision can lead to medical issues progressing unchecked until they become catastrophic, resident-on-resident violence or even elopement incidents that result in serious injuries for residents who leave the facility.
Will my loved one have to testify about nursing home abuse, and how are cases handled if they’re medically fragile?
No, your vulnerable, recovering family member does not necessarily need to testify in a nursing home abuse or neglect lawsuit. The case against the facility and the professionals working there relies primarily on verifiable evidence, such as medical records, expert testimony and photographs or video footage.
If the resident affected by abuse or neglect is medically or psychologically fragile, any interviews may take place in familiar settings to avoid traumatizing them. Testimony from witnesses and family members, as well as objective evidence, such as care notes from before and after the abuse or neglect, can help meet the burden of proof to reduce the likelihood of emotional distress or physical complications.
Secure Professional Advocacy For Your Loved One Today
No senior should suffer in a place meant for their care. If you suspect elder neglect or abuse, you deserve a legal champion.
Call Tang & Maravelis, P.C., at 888-658-2423 or email us to discuss your case with a dedicated nursing home negligence lawyer and protect your family today.