We Know the Top Nursing Home Abuse Risk Factors

An Alabama nursing home abuse attorney who holds negligent facilities accountable

When placing your loved one in the care of an Alabama nursing home, it is important to understand the risk factors that could contribute to abuse.

If you suspect that something isn't right, we urge you to take immediate action. Looking for physical, emotional, mental and financial signs of abuse is only one step in the process. Understanding the environmental factors of a particular nursing home can uncover additional evidence in a nursing home case. That's why it's so critical to contact a nursing home abuse lawyer right away.

What are the most common risk factors?

The risk factors that can lead to nursing home abuse often include, but are not limited to:

• More residents, less staff: Working in a nursing home and attending to the needs of all residents can be stressful and difficult for many staff members. Nursing homes have a responsibility to provide adequate staffing for their residents to avoid this problem. Understaffing has become common and in far too many cases, stress and frustration from this issue turns into abuse.
• High staff turnover rate: When placing your loved one in a nursing home, you may be well aware of who is caring for him or her. However, when a staff member leaves, you may not be aware of their replacement - especially if you don't see your loved one often. It may be someone who lacks the patience and compassion of a previous staff member.
• Lack of staff training and policy enforcement: New staff members may not be experienced or trained on how to care for an elder in certain instances. Furthermore, just because certain rules and procedures are written in a nursing home's policy doesn't mean that they're being regularly enforced.
• Alzheimer's disease and dementia: Residents who suffer from this condition can't recall instances of abuse. For this reason, abusive staff members might take advantage of them. However, even if a resident's ability to communicate is limited, physical signs may be apparent, or others may have witnessed the abuse.
• Staff negligence: Even if the abuse isn't committed by staff members, negligence from staff can put residents at risk of abuse by other patients or visitors.

Your attorney will get to the bottom of what happened

Nursing home abuse cases are not as simple as you may think. A nursing home may not only attempt to conceal evidence involving elder abuse, they may have an attorney looking out for their best interests. That's why you need an experienced legal advocate on your side.

At Shuttlesworth Law Firm, P.C., we will not only examine the signs of elder abuse, but will take these risk factors into account when reviewing your case for a potential nursing home abuse lawsuit. We'll work tirelessly to gather all evidence to build a strong case.

Contact us today to speak to a nursing home abuse attorney. You can also call our Birmingham office at 205-322-1411. Don't worry about the costs. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means that you don't pay any fees unless you receive the compensation and care that you need.