Maryland Nursing Home Lawyer Blog
A Missouri family believes that their 86 year old mother with Alzheimer’s was abused in a nursing home where she was living.
The nursing home initially called the family to inform them that the woman had fallen in her bedroom. Her daughter reports that her mother’s eye was swollen shut, following what the home stated was a bad fall. The family members did not believe that a fall could have caused the injuries.
The woman’s daughter stated that the pictures from the hospital show her mother suffered a broken nose, broken cheekbones and bruising to her eye, and that she believes someone assaulted her mother, on at least one occasion. The family reportedly received conflicting stories regarding how their mother allegedly fell.
The family said that they filed a report with state and local authorities. The nursing home where the incident occurred stated that they are conducting an internal investigation.
While this incident happened in Missouri, it could just as easily have happened in Maryland, or anywhere in the U.S. for that matter.
The sad reality is that nursing home abuse and neglect is more widespread than we tend to believe. One recent report found that individuals were being abused in one out of every three nursing homes. The types of abuse varied from direct physical or sexual abuse committed by employees of the facilities, to cases where staff were cited for failing to protect individuals from abuse by other residents.
In this case, it seems that the woman’s injuries are fairly severe, and limited only to her face, moreso than one might expect with a typical fall. For example, one of the most common injuries associated with an elderly fall is a hip fracture, due to the common presence of osteoporosis at an older age.
Whether the woman was truly abused or not, it is important to point out and emphasize that her family followed their intuition. Even though we do not know definitively at this point in time, an investigation and examination of evidence, such as video footage, may provide more answers. It is key to not only visit your loved one as much as practicable to establish a presence within the facility, but also to note if their physical appearance or health has been affected in any way.
If you suspect that an elderly friend or relative living in a nursing home or assisted living facility within the Maryland or the Washington D.C. areas might be suffering from neglect or abuse, contact the experienced nursing home abuse and neglect attorneys at Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers immediately. We will vigorously investigate and pursue any potential claims on behalf of your loved one, and fight for the compensation that they deserve. Contact us today in order to schedule your complimentary and confidential initial consultation. You can reach us by calling (800) 654-1949 or contact us through our website.
More Blog Posts:
Nursing Home Abandons Patients, Leaves Them to Fend for Themselves, Maryland Nursing Home Lawyer Blog, published November 5, 2013
Nursing Assistant Convicted of Abusing 89 Year Old Nursing Home Patient, Maryland Nursing Home Lawyer Blog, published October 25, 2013