Maryland Nursing Home Lawyer Blog
For family members who diligently researched the available options and carefully helped place a loved one in a Maryland nursing home, it is incredibly upsetting to hear a loved one disclose that they are being neglected or abused by nursing home staff members. However, this is exactly what many family members experience when their loved ones report back to them about their life in the nursing home.
It is estimated that approximately 500,000 elderly nursing home residents are the victim of abuse and serious neglect each year. However, it is also understood that this figure likely is much lower than it should be due to rampant underreporting by residents. In addition, when residents decide to reach out to nursing home management to disclose abuse, the allegations are too often swept under the rug. In many cases, it is only when family members get involved that allegations of abuse get taken seriously.
Once a nursing home resident discloses abuse, a Maryland nursing home abuse lawsuit can be filed against the responsible parties. If successful, the resident will be able to obtain compensation for their injuries. Importantly, this includes compensation for emotional injuries, as well as physical injuries.
Nursing Home Aide Arrested for Abusing Residents
Earlier last month, a 57-year-old nursing home aide was arrested on charges of related to allegations that he abused a patient in his care. According to a local news report, the man was charged with endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person.
Evidently, the aide was found on top of a 64-year-old resident punching him repeatedly. The aide was yelling “I told you not to try me,” to the resident, who was unable to fight back or put up any resistance due to his condition. The aide was also yelling derogatory racial slurs to the resident.
Those who witnessed the assault told reporters that it seemed the aide was high on drugs at the time, and also that he had a smell of alcohol on his breath. The criminal case against the aide is still pending, and it remains to be seen whether the family of the abused resident will pursue a nursing home abuse lawsuit against the aide or nursing home management.
Is Your Loved One at Risk?
If you have a loved one in a Maryland nursing home, and you fear that they may have been the victim of abuse or neglect, contact the dedicated Maryland nursing home attorneys at the law firm of Lebowitz & Mzhen, LLC. At Lebowitz & Mzhen, we represent nursing home residents and their families in cases against abusive and neglectful caretakers, and we have been doing so for decades. We understand the frustrations that come along with these cases, as well as the common defenses that nursing homes try to use to avoid liability. To learn more, call 410-654-3600 to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case with an attorney today.
More Blog Posts:
Study Reveals Dangers of Unlicensed Care Facilities, Maryland Nursing Home Lawyer Blog, published August 31, 2018.
Prosecutors Ask Judge to Dismiss Case Against Neglectful Nurses, Maryland Nursing Home Lawyer Blog, published August 7, 2018.