Bethlehem Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

Abuse at nursing home facilities is a common issue throughout the US. If you’ve trusted a Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, nursing home to care for your loved one, it’s essential to check for signs of abuse or neglect vigilantly.

You may file a personal injury claim or lawsuit seeking compensation on your loved one’s behalf if they experience mistreatment. At Munley Law, a Bethlehem nursing home abuse lawyer is available to offer the assistance you and your loved one deserve now. Contact us today to discuss your case.

Recognizing Warning Signs in Bethlehem Facilities

When visiting your loved one, it’s important to watch for signs that they receive proper care and attention. Look for changes in their physical condition, emotional state, and living environment. Pay attention to their hygiene, nutrition, mobility, and whether they seem comfortable and well-supported by their caregivers. If you notice concerning changes, document them and discuss them with medical staff or appropriate authorities.

Common signs of physical abuse or neglect include:

• Unexplained bruises or other such injuries
• Weight loss (although any sudden weight fluctuations can be a sign of neglect)
• Indications that a loved one hasn’t taken the medication they need
• Broken eyeglasses or similar personal items
• Damaged clothing
• Rope marks on the wrists or other such signs of restraint

Signs of financial exploitation to be on the lookout for include:

• Unexplained withdrawals from accounts
• Unexplained loans
• Missing cash or high-value items
• Forced signatures on financial documents
• Unexplained changes to financial documents, accounts, etc.

Signs of emotional abuse include:

• Changes in mood
• Signs of emotional distress (such as fear) around certain nursing home staff members
• Personality changes or behavior, such as becoming more withdrawn
• Strange behaviors that one might associate with a child, like thumb-sucking or similar self-soothing behaviors

Social isolation is also a potential form of nursing home neglect. It can be more difficult to detect, as many of the signs of social isolation overlap with those of emotional abuse.

For example, a loved one who’s been the victim of social isolation at a nursing home may become depressed or listless. On the other hand, they may seem particularly eager for social connections. If a loved one looks excessively distraught at the idea of you leaving at the end of a visit, it’s usually worth considering the reason.

Remove your loved one from the situation if you suspect nursing home abuse. To learn more about how a nursing home abuse attorney may help you and your loved one pursue compensation, contact us today.

Pennsylvania’s Nursing Home Residents’ Rights

Under Pennsylvania law, residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities have certain rights. The Pennsylvania Department of Aging oversees these facilities to ensure compliance with the applicable statutes.

It would be impossible to cover all the rights Pennsylvania law establishes for nursing home residents in a single blog post. The following are just a few examples of requirements a Bethlehem nursing home must abide by:

• Not discriminating against residents due to such protected characteristics as race, gender, sexual orientation, etc.
• Not engaging in any form of elder abuse
• Treating all residents with dignity and respect
• Providing residents with access to phones and ensuring they can make calls in privacy
• Providing residents with assistance in accessing healthcare services

Nursing homes that fail to abide by these regulations may face various penalties. For example, non-compliance can result in a nursing home losing the privilege to participate in a Medicare or Medicaid program.

A non-compliant assisted living facility or its insurer may also have to pay victims of abuse or neglect. Get in touch with our Bethlehem nursing home abuse lawyers today for more information.

Investigation and Documentation Process of Suspected Nursing Home Abuse in Bethlehem, PA

Contact Bethlehem law enforcement if you believe nursing home neglect or abuse has occurred. You should also report your concerns to the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

Taking the above steps doesn’t just trigger a proper investigation. Showing you took such steps could also strengthen your negotiating power when seeking compensation later.

Take your loved one to see a doctor as soon as possible after removing them from a nursing home where you think they’ve been abused or neglected. Save copies of all medical records and bills, and make sure your loved one continues with a recommended treatment plan. Doing so is key to gathering medical evidence.

It’s also wise to save evidence digitally. This may involve:

• Saving digital copies of medical records
• Take pictures of your loved one’s injuries, the conditions in which they lived, etc.
• Searching the internet for reports of similar abuse or neglect cases involving this particular Bethlehem nursing home

Elder law attorneys can also investigate to gather evidence of abuse and neglect. Get in touch with our Bethlehem personal injury attorneys to discuss how we can build a strong case.

Beyond Workers: Third-Party Liability in Bethlehem Nursing Home Abuse Cases

A nursing home’s ownership is typically the liable party in a nursing home abuse case. However, there are exceptions. Consider the following instances in which third-party liability may apply:

• Corporate nursing home abuse chains: If abuse happens at a Bethlehem nursing home that belongs to a national chain, a larger corporate owner may be liable.
• Staffing agencies: The legal theory of vicarious liability establishes that when an employee negligently harms someone while performing their work duties, their employer may technically be liable. That means a nursing home isn’t always liable when its staff members abuse nursing home residents. In some cases, a staffing agency may be liable due to negligent hiring.
• Medical equipment providers: Direct abuse or neglect doesn’t have to occur for a loved one to be harmed at a nursing home. For example, a defective piece of medical equipment could cause harm. Negligent medical equipment providers may be liable in these circumstances.

Similarly, any party contracted to provide a service at a nursing home could be liable if they cause harm. Contact our Bethlehem nursing home abuse law firm to learn who may be liable in your case.

The Role of Family in Protection and Prevention

If you have a loved one in a Bethlehem nursing home, you may be responsible for helping them avoid abuse and neglect. You could fulfill this duty by:

• Exercising power of attorney (if you have it) to make medical decisions and other such decisions on a loved one’s behalf
• Participating in or starting a “family council,” in which family members of nursing home residents form a group to advocate for residents’ rights
• Visiting regularly and using these opportunities to keep an eye out for red flags
• Communicating with facility management and voicing your concerns as they arise

If you find your loved one has suffered neglect or abuse, you may be responsible for taking legal action on their behalf. Reach out to our legal team today to discuss your options.

Local Support Network

Your local network can also be a form of valuable support, helping you guard against abuse and assist a loved one who’s been a victim. Consider the following examples:

• In Lehigh County, the Division of Aging and Adult Services (part of the Department of Human Services) offers information about resources for the elderly throughout the Lehigh Valley.
• The Bethlehem Township Community Center offers services to help senior citizens socialize and improve their overall quality of life.
• By networking with others, you may find local support groups, or you can start your own. Enrolling your loved one in counseling is another option.

Supporting your loved one after they’ve been abused or neglected is more manageable when someone else is handling their legal case. Discuss your case during a free consultation to find out how a Bethlehem nursing home abuse attorney can help you now.

Compensation and Recovery Options for Nursing Home Abuse in Bethlehem, PA

A nursing home in Bethlehem should have insurance. You can file a claim with the nursing home’s insurer to seek compensation for abuse or neglect. If this isn’t an option, you can file a lawsuit to pursue damages in court.

Compensation may be available for medical bills, pain and suffering, and various other struggles your loved one faced as a result of their mistreatment. Wrongful death damages may be available if your loved one dies because of neglect or abuse.

A settlement may not be paid out entirely at once. You might prefer a structured settlement, in which your loved one receives their award over time.  Trust planning can also help you properly manage the funds from a settlement or jury award. These are all topics a Bethlehem nursing home abuse attorney at our law firm would be happy to discuss with you in greater detail during a case review.

How a Bethlehem Nursing Home Negligence Lawsuit Works

No two cases are exactly alike. That being said, a Bethlehem nursing home negligence lawsuit may involve the following:

• Gathering documentation, such as medical bills, pictures of injuries/living conditions, interviews with witnesses, etc.
• Coordinating with Lehigh Valley expert witnesses, such as doctors who can speak to the way abuse or neglect caused your loved one’s injuries
• Negotiating for a fair settlement with the insurance company

The insurance company won’t always offer the settlement you deserve. You may need to go to court to seek justice in these circumstances.

We’ll never make these decisions for you without your involvement. However, our team can help you address all the various tasks and decisions a case against a nursing home facility may involve. Call us today or contact us online to start working on your case.

Our Bethlehem Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Is Here to Help

Learning a loved one has been abused or neglected in a nursing home is a devastating experience for anyone. Help is available in these circumstances. To learn more about the benefits of coordinating with a Bethlehem nursing home abuse attorney at Munley Law, contact us today for your free consultation.

Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys

609 Hamilton St
Allentown, PA 18101
(610) 857-7424