How to Prove Nursing Home Abuse
You placed your loved one in elderly care to protect their future. That’s part of why learning that they may be suffering nursing home abuse is so devastating.
If you suspect abuse is a possibility, one option is to seek damages for their physical or emotional harm. In addition to learning how to prove nursing home abuse, speaking with an experienced injury attorney can help you get justice for your loved one.
Forms of Nursing Home Abuse
There are numerous forms of eldery abuse, ranging from physical mistreatment to emotional neglect. Some of them may be more difficult to prove than others. In terms of the typical types of nursing home abuse, these are some that are frequently reported:
- Physical abuse or violence
- Sexual abuse or misconduct
- Emotional neglect
- The use of unwarranted physical restraints or social isolation
- Financial manipulation or exploitation
Documenting Your Loved One’s Nursing Home Abuse
As in all personal injury lawsuits, it will be your responsibility to prove that your loved one’s physical and emotional injuries were the result of a negligent or careless person. Of course, with nursing home abuse, damages are often intentional and not necessarily the result of negligence per se.
Regardless of the type of abuse your loved one has received, some strategies for proving the abuse with concrete evidence include:
- Photographing your loved one’s injuries or inadequate living conditions
- Obtaining all medical and nursing home records attesting to physical injury
- Obtaining statements from witnesses, including your loved one, their friends or neighbors at the elderly care facility, or even facility workers
- Filing a police report as soon as you are aware of abuse
In order to win a financial settlement for nursing home abuse in a civil case, abuse must be proved by the preponderance of evidence. Although filing a lawsuit during this turbulent time will be complicated, a nursing home abuse lawyer can take charge of your case while you focus on getting your loved one to safety.
Contact a Nursing Home Abuse Attorney
If your loved one is the victim of nursing home abuse, they deserve justice for their emotional and physical damages. Mahoney & Mahoney, LLC is trusted in northwest Illinois to defend their clients’ interests in nursing home abuse cases.
Let an experienced nursing home abuse lawyer help you. Call 815-656-4600 today to schedule a free, no-hassle consultation.
