If someone you love lives in a Hazleton nursing home, assisted living facility, or retirement community, they deserve to be treated as family. Unfortunately, instances of elder abuse are regularly reported throughout Luzerne County. Nursing Home Abuse Justice (NHAJ) reports that more than 5,000,000 seniors are abused throughout the United States each year. That means that 1 out of every 10 Americans over the age of 60 will be mistreated by those trusted with their care. Alarmingly, the NHAJ also reports that 13 out of 14 instances of nursing home abuse are not reported.
For over 60 years, Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys has represented families and fought against the abuse of Hazleton’s beloved seniors. Our nursing home abuse lawyers understand what elder abuse looks like and how to make it stop for good. If you suspect that a cherished member of your family is suffering, don’t wait any longer. Call the Nursing Home Abuse Team at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys today to schedule a free consultation.
Who we are: a family firm committed to stopping nursing home abuse in northeastern Pennsylvania
Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys is a family law firm, and for more than six decades, we have served the greater Hazleton area by treating our clients like family too. We understand the trust it takes to allow a nursing home or assisted living facility to care for YOUR family. And we know how painful it is when that trust is violated and your loved one suffers as a result.
That’s why our Nursing Home Abuse Team is here to help. If you suspect that someone you love is being abused by a senior community facility, it is time to speak up. Our lawyers are standing by to investigate and take action. A consultation with a Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys attorney is always free, and we won’t charge you a penny unless or until we win. Let our family protect your’s. Call Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys today.
Hazleton Nursing Home Abuse FAQ
Q: What is nursing home abuse?
Nursing home abuse is a type of elder abuse that occurs in a residential assisted living facility. According to the NHAJ, nursing home abuse can involve:
- Physical Abuse such as hitting, kicking, pushing, punching, slapping, cutting, or scraping
- Sexual Abuse in the form of groping, penetration, or any other forced or unwanted contact
- Verbal Abuse like mocking, yelling, berating, screaming, chastising, degrading, or scaring
- Abandonment and Neglect
- Financial and Material Exploitation including altering financial documents and stealing
- Healthcare Fraud
- Self-Neglect of the staff entrusted with nursing home residents’ care
Q: Who are the perpetrators of nursing home abuse?
While it may be difficult to imagine that anyone would intentionally target our vulnerable loved ones, many people exploit and abuse the elderly. Therefore you should keep a close watch on those who frequently interact with the senior members of your family. In particular, pay attention to the following groups of people. The most common perpetrators of nursing home abuse are:
- Assisted living facility care staff
- Nursing home administrators
- Retirement community medical staff
- Other residents
- Visiting family members
Accordingly, watch out for strange behavior from these groups and if your loved one is acting strange, speak up right away.
Q: How will I know if my loved one is being abused?
While you may think that nursing home abuse is easy to spot, the signs are not always obvious, and many seniors cannot clearly communicate the pain they are suffering. As such, keep an eye out for the following common symptoms of elder abuse:
- Bruises
- Cuts
- Broken bones
- Sudden loss of appetite
- Mood swings
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Unexplained purchases or changes to financial documents
- Fearfulness
- Confusion
- Violence
- Anger
While these symptoms do not automatically prove that your loved one is being abused, the may be a sign of mistreatment. For that reason, it is important to address any of these symptoms right away.
Q: If I suspect that my relative is being abused at their residential assisted living facility, what should I do?
If you suspect that your family member is being abused, do not wait. At the first sign of neglect or maltreatment, take the following steps:
- Document the date, time, symptoms you witness
- Ask your loved one directly about what is going on
- Alert the nursing home care staff and administration about the signs
- Insist that the facility explain what happened and take action to protect your family member
- Call 9-11 if you suspect your loved one is in immediate danger
- Report the abuse to the Luzerne County Department of Human Services
- Contact an experienced nursing home abuse lawyer to represent you and your family
At Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, we protect Hazleton’s most vulnerable seniors. When our client’s loved ones suffer abuse, we are here to fight for the justice they deserve. Learn what it means to have a Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys personal injury lawyer in your corner. Schedule a free consultation with our Nursing Home Abuse Team today.
Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys
197 N Cedar St.
Hazleton, PA 18201
(570) 536-9498
