St. Louis Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

Nursing Home Abuse in Missouri

Placing a loved one in a nursing home or assisted living facility can be an extremely difficult decision. Each year millions of families have to make this tough choice. When entrusting the care of our precious family members to a nursing home, we do so with the hope and belief they will receive quality care and be treated with dignity and respect.

Sadly, nursing home abuse is rising to epidemic levels in the United States. If your loved one has been the victim of abuse or neglect in a Missouri nursing home or assisted living facility, please understand you and your loved one have legal rights. Contact an experienced St. Louis injury lawyer immediately when you suspect some type of abuse.

Victim of Nursing Home Neglect? Call (314) 322-8515

Missouri ranks near the bottom when it comes to nursing home care. Better Care, a non-profit citizen advocacy group that reviews the quality of resident care on a state-by-state basis, noted that Missouri received a failing grade for the second year in a row and was ranked the fifth worst state in the country.

In that study, one in three Missouri nursing homes had a poor average in nursing home care. This means many nursing home residents in Missouri go without skilled care on a daily basis and some are neglected. Under Missouri Law, nursing home abuse involves the infliction of “physical, sexual, or emotional injury or harm including financial exploitation by any person, firm, or corporation.”

Types of Nursing Home Abuse

Here are just a few examples of abuse and elder neglect, which occur commonly in nursing homes and assisted living facilities in Missouri:

• Neglect: This is the most common form of nursing home abuse and occurs when a nursing home employee fails to follow the standard of care. Nursing home neglect can range from failing to provide the resident with required personal hygiene, depriving them of nourishment such as food and hydration, failing to provide medication and treatment, and showing disregard for the resident’s safety and security. Some of the common signs of nursing home neglect include dramatic weight loss or malnourishment, bed sores, lesions or skin rashes and stench of urine or feces on the resident or their living area.
• Physical abuse: This refers to an act of excessive force that causes bodily harm, pain and suffering to the nursing home resident. Examples of physical abuse include pushing, hitting, shoving, slapping, burning or improperly restraining the resident.
• Sexual abuse: This occurs when an individual engages in a non-consensual sexual act with a resident. In cases where the resident suffers from dementia, he or she cannot legally give consent to engage in sexual activity. Any instance of sexual assault or abuse should be promptly reported to law enforcement and the nursing home’s administrators.
• Psychological abuse: This could occur through verbal and non-verbal behavior. Examples of psychological abuse in nursing homes include verbal assault, bullying, intimidation, humiliation, isolation and other types of harassment.

Fighting for Your Rights

If you or a loved one has suffered from nursing home abuse, you need to address the issue immediately. You may decide to file a personal injury claim against the nursing home or the corporation that owns the facility for the damages and injuries suffered. Families of nursing home abuse victims may be able pursue a Missouri claim for wrongful death if the abuse caused the death. For more information or a free and comprehensive case evaluation, call Page Law now at (314) 322-8515.

Additional Information

• Missouri Law Regarding Nursing Homes and Other Care Options
• Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation of the Elderly and Disabled in Missouri
• Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services
• Prevention of Elder Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation (Title VII-A3)