Do I Need a Texas Nursing Home Negligence Lawyer?

If you placed an aging loved one into a nursing home, you probably did so with the best intentions. You wanted your family member to have professional, around-the-clock care. Many families lack the time or specialized knowledge to make this standard achievable at home. In these situations, nursing facilities seem like the only option. The problem, though, is that many homes disregard the needs of their residents. If you believe a nursing home is ignoring or mistreating your loved one, the lawyers of Carabin Shaw can help you determine your next steps. We believe that victims of nursing home neglect in Odessa deserve a voice in court.

Defining Abuse and Neglect

You might be wondering, “Do I need a Texas nursing home negligence lawyer?” In this case, pinning down exact definitions of abuse and neglect is paramount to understanding your Odessa nursing home negligence case. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) defines elder abuse as “an intentional act, or failure to act, by a caregiver or another person in a relationship involving an expectation of trust that causes or creates a risk of harm to an older adult.” The CDC states that acts of abuse include:

• Physical abuse
• Sexual abuse
• Emotional or psychological abuse
• Neglect
• Financial abuse or exploitation

Here, neglect indicates a caregiver’s failure to meet any of the essential needs of the elderly person. But, what are these essential needs?

What Constitutes Nursing Home Neglect?

You might need an Odessa elder abuse lawyer if your loved one has experienced nursing home neglect. The most common forms of elderly neglect are:

• Medical neglect: Medical neglect occurs when a nursing facility does not provide patients with enough attention, prevention, or treatment for concerns like bedsores, cognitive disorders, cuts, diabetes, infections, and mobility issues. Medical neglect may lead to malpractice. Check in with your loved one about their overall health, and contact an attorney if you suspect his or her healthcare is poor.
• Personal hygiene neglect: This type of neglect happens when staff does not help residents bathe, brush their teeth, clean, do laundry, or follow other hygienic practices. If you visit your loved one and see this neglect in action, call nursing home negligence lawyers in Odessa as soon as possible.
• Emotional and social neglect: Odessa nursing home negligence cases might involve emotional and social neglect, which occurs when overstressed staff ignores, leaves alone, or snaps at residents. Your loved one may be hesitant to talk about this conduct because it isolates them, but if they open up to you be sure to defend them. Odessa personal injury attorneys have seen this type of mistreatment before and are aware of the negative effect it has on residents’ mood and self-esteem.
• Basic needs neglect: When a nursing home does not provide residents with sufficient food and water or clean, safe living conditions, basic needs neglect occurs.

Any of the above are grounds for a negligence lawsuit, and an Odessa elder abuse lawyer can help you file the claim.

Texas Law Supports Elderly Abuse Cases

National and state regulations protect the elderly from abuse and neglect. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission aims to safeguard elderly patients from neglect and verbal, sexual, mental, or physical abuse. Additionally, the Texas Administrative Code requires nursing homes to provide residents with services for “the highest possible mental, physical, and psychosocial wellbeing.” Our attorneys value these laws and regulations, and we are committed to holding violators accountable.

Connect with Carabin Shaw Today

Choosing a lawyer for your Odessa nursing home negligence case can be overwhelming, but Carabin Shaw is here to make your decision easy. Our firm has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau because our team has defended clients across Texas for decades. We are ready to use our expertise to help you and your family.

For a free consultation in Odessa, call 432-620-0544 or reach us toll-free at 1-800-862-1260.

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