What to do if You Suspect Elderly Abuse in Aransas Pass

It has become increasingly clear over the past decade that the elderly and infirm in this country who require extra care and attention are all too often mistreated and neglected. If you live along the coast of Texas and are wondering what to do if you suspect elderly abuse in Aransas Pass, you have options, and you deserve to know them. Fortunately, there is a nursing home negligence attorney from Carabin Shaw in Aransas Pass ready and willing to guide you towards maximum compensation.

Perhaps the most shocking thing about nursing home negligence is how difficult it is to identify. The elderly and abused may be unaware of what constitutes abuse, or unable to recognize negligence due to a deteriorating mental or physical condition. Such instances require the victim’s family, friends, and loved ones to remain well-informed and vigilant regarding nursing home treatment.

As with most things, identification of the issue is the first step to change, and self-education on behalf of everyone involved can help mitigate damages and hold negligent parties accountable and prevent further loss or damage.

Elderly abuse most often occurs within the confines of a nursing home, and can many times be traced back to the negligence of some individual employee or the facility’s operations as a whole. Some of the most common types of Aransas Pass nursing home negligence are:

• Emotional neglect
• Monetary exploitation
• Psychological abuse
• Inappropriate use of medication
• Unsanitary facilities
• Medical neglect
• Essential needs neglect
• Lack of facility cleanliness

Not all signs of abuse and neglect are immediately apparent; many are subtle and only appear over time. A few common signs of nursing home abuse that may indicate deeper problems within the nursing home facility itself can include:

• Sudden or unexplained weight loss
• Worsening physical injury
• Depression or social anxiety
• Rapidly diminishing health
• Worsening wounds or injury
• Depression and negativity
• Lack of proper hygiene
• Malnutrition and dehydration
• Lack of friendly staff interaction
• Lack of amiable interactions with other residents
• Inattentiveness to physical appearance
• Persistent bed sores

When someone you care about experiences elder abuse or negligence in any capacity, it can be a confusing time filled with questions about how to best move forward and regain your life. As the family or loved one of the victim, there are a few initial steps you can take if you do indeed suspect elderly abuse. These include:

• Consult with the victim: The persons who are best able to give a detailed account of abuse are always the victim themselves. Consulting them first can help the family’s attorney to learn the specifics of the abuse. The more first-hand information you secure from the victim, the stronger a lawsuit becomes.
• Gather evidence: The more you can unequivocally prove the diminished conditions of the nursing home in question, the better your chances of obtaining maximum compensation. Take pictures, and write down conversations you have had with the staff of the facility.
• Obtain records: This can include any and all medical bills, receipts, and even paperwork signed at the time of residency application. Facilities are required by state law to provide contractual paperwork at the beginning of a new resident’s stay, and they are also legally required to address any concerns or records by their residents.
• Confront administration: Especially with access to the documentation mentioned above, your next step should be to address your concerns with the facility or administration in charge. The more evidence you arm yourself with, the better your chances of obtaining proper compensation.
• Seek legal counsel: Especially if other forms of aforementioned leadership fail to address your concerns, the guidance of a Carabin Shaw elderly abuse lawyer in the Aransas Pass area can be the difference between complete compensation and injustice for your family.

If you are unsure of what to do if you suspect elderly abuse in Aransas Pass, legal representation may prove to be your strongest asset in the quest for financial restitution and reformation of a nursing home’s practices.

The attorneys at Carabin Shaw have over 20 years of experience fighting for the rights of all of our clients in all manner of personal injury cases. We understand that the elderly in Aransas Pass require assistance to get through their daily tasks. If they are unable to live a full life because of negligence, they deserve a voice.

We offer all prospective clients an initial consultation, free of charge, to help make them aware of your best options moving forward. Contact an Aransas Pass nursing home negligence attorney from Carabin Shaw today at 361.717.4411.