What Are Signs of Nursing Home Physical Abuse and Neglect?

Both physical abuse and neglect may leave visible signs, although they won’t necessarily do so. Signs that may indicate physical abuse include: Cuts, scrapes, bruises, friction burns, and open wounds Injuries like sprains, broken bones, and head trauma, especially if they are unexplained or the explanation seems questionable Damage to the resident’s property, such as eyeglasses, that could indicate a fall or physical assault Warning signs that neglect is occurring in a nursing home include: Injuries that could reasonably be caused by accidents, especially if those accidents are recurring or suggest proper safety precautions aren’t being taken Bedsores or pressure sores that may suggest the resident is spending too much time stationary in bed or a chair Signs of dehydration or malnourishment, such as losing an unhealthy amount of weight in a short time Poor hygiene, especially if the nursing home resident requires assistance from personnel Changes in sleeping patterns or habits Signs of receiving improper medications or incorrect dosages of medications, such as appearing drugged and lethargic due to taking too much medication Declines in health associated with improper nutrition, hydration, or medication dosage Both physical abuse and neglect may contribute to sudden changes in your loved one's mental and emotional state and behavior. These changes can include mood swings, signs or verbal expressions of fear or depression, and withdrawal from social activities. Your loved one may be reluctant to talk about the neglect or abuse, especially if they fear retaliation from the nursing home staff, feel embarrassed about or ashamed of the abuse, or are concerned about being a “burden” to other family members. Assure your family member that the abuse isn’t their fault and that there are ways to protect them. If your loved one denies being abused or neglected but you still have concerns, take advantage of a free case review to discuss your options with the New Jersey nursing home neglect lawyers at the Law Offices of Harold J. Gerr.

How Can New Jersey Nursing Home Neglect Lawyers Help?

Our seasoned nursing home abuse and neglect lawyers can investigate the care your loved one is receiving at the nursing home and whether it falls short in ways that constitute neglect or abuse. We can file a lawsuit on your family’s behalf to hold the nursing home legally accountable and seek financial compensation for your family. If you have questions about how to move your loved one out of the nursing home for their safety, we can help you understand your legal rights and options and any obstacles that may arise.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire Experienced New Jersey Nursing Home Neglect Lawyers?

Families dealing with nursing home abuse and neglect can retain professional legal assistance at no upfront cost from the Law Offices of Harold J. Gerr. We offer every potential client a free consultation so you can get your questions answered. Our nursing home neglect law firm represents clients on a contingency fee basis. This arrangement means we only collect payment if we have succeeded in getting your family financial compensation.

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New Jersey Nursing Home Neglect Lawyers

Nursing Home Physical Abuse Attorneys in Highland Park, NJ, Advocating for Victims of Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse Throughout Mercer County, Middlesex County, Somerset County, and Across NJ

In nursing homes all over New Jersey, neglect and physical abuse remain significant problems. Nursing home residents aren’t just dependent on their professional caregivers. They’re completely at the mercy of these personnel, who are often understaffed and, in some cases, may be poorly trained and unqualified.

If you believe your loved one has suffered from neglect or physical abuse in a nursing home, it’s important to take action right away to protect them from further harm. At the Law Offices of Harold J. Gerr, we’re known for our compassionate handling of claims, as well as the results we achieve for our clients. We can help you understand the next steps you can take, as well as your family’s legal rights and options, and promptly launch an investigation into what goes on in the nursing home.

Let us support your family through this challenging time and advocate for your loved one. For a free consultation, contact us today.

Seek Justice for Your Injury. Contact The Law Offices of Harold J. Gerr for Experienced Representation Today.

Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse Cases in New Jersey

NJ is home to more than 350 nursing homes, according to the New Jersey Department of Health. The quality of these residential care facilities, as measured by the Federal Five-Star Quality Rating System, varies considerably. Over a third of NJ nursing homes (134 total) have one- or two-star ratings. Fewer than one-quarter of nursing homes in New Jersey have a five-star rating. The reality is that hundreds of nursing homes in NJ could do better.

The ways in which New Jersey nursing homes fall short can amount to neglect and physical abuse that causes residents considerable harm. A 2020 report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office identified an estimated 311 hospital claims (among Medicaid recipients alone) arising out of abuse and neglect in New Jersey nursing homes in 2016. This data is incomplete, not only because it includes only claims involving Medicaid recipients but also because abuse in nursing homes often goes unreported. The true number of victims who have suffered nursing home abuse and neglect in NJ is considerably larger.

Families who have had to face the difficult choice of putting a loved one in a nursing home don’t take the decision lightly. They do their research and try to find a suitable facility where their loved one will be well cared for. However, they can only make decisions based on the data that’s available to them. In its report, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office stated that “New Jersey did not ensure that nursing facilities always investigated and reported incidents of potential abuse or neglect,” as they are required to do under state and federal law.

Attorneys in New Jersey have turned their attention to the widespread and persistent problem of physical abuse and neglect in nursing homes. Even if you can’t always count on the nursing home to investigate itself or the state to hold nursing homes accountable, you can bring your concerns to seasoned attorneys for nursing home neglect and trust them to advocate for your loved one.

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Areas Our New Jersey Nursing Home Neglect Lawyers Serve

From our office location in Highland Park, the Law Offices of Harold J. Gerr assist nursing home abuse victims and their families across New Jersey, including:

We know that concerns over nursing home neglect and physical abuse can put a huge strain on your family. That’s why our nursing home physical abuse attorneys in Highland Park, NJ, make it easy to get legal assistance for abuse-related personal injury claims throughout New Jersey.

$1 M
Pedestrian Accident
$845 K
Commercial Truck Accident
$275 K
Slip and Fall Accident

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What Constitutes Nursing Home Physical Abuse and Neglect?

Both physical abuse and neglect in a nursing home can have a significant negative effect on your loved one’s health.

Nursing Home Physical Abuse

Abuse refers to intentional and willful actions that inflict harm, not accidents (which may arise out of neglect). Physical abuse encompasses all kinds of willful actions that inflict bodily harm, including:

Hitting
Slapping
Kicking
Shoving
Pushing
Pinching
Hair pulling
Shaking
Forcefully grabbing
Choking
Cutting
Burning
Inappropriately using physical restraints when not medically necessary

Any use of physical force to intentionally inflict bodily harm on a resident may constitute nursing home abuse. It is illegal for nursing home personnel to physically harm the residents in their care.

Get the Compensation You Deserve. Let The Law Offices of Harold J. Gerr Fight for Your Rights. Call Us Today at 732-537-8570 or Fill Out Our Convenient Online Contact Form For a Free Consultation.

Nursing Home Neglect

Neglect doesn’t have to be intentional, although it can be. In a nursing home, neglect may encompass any form of inadequate care, including:

Withholding or failing to provide food and beverages to ensure adequate nutrition and hydration, including failing to provide food appropriate for any dietary restrictions the resident has
Allowing the resident to go without shelter or clothing
Denying the resident necessary assistance with personal hygiene
Failing to keep the resident safe, including protecting them from harm at the hands of other residents
Failing to give the resident their necessary medications, administer medications properly and at the appropriate times, or administer the correct dose of medication
Leaving the resident alone in such a way that enables accidents to happen, such as leaving a person who requires mobility assistance to fend for themselves so that they suffer a fall injury

Physical abuse and neglect aren’t the only forms of abuse to be aware of. There are several varieties of abuse that may occur in nursing homes, from emotional abuse to sexual abuse and financial abuse. If you suspect abuse of any kind for any reason, getting professional legal advice during a free consultation with nursing home physical abuse attorneys in Highland Park, NJ, can help you determine the path forward.

Contact the New Jersey Nursing Home Neglect Lawyers at the Law Offices of Harold J. Gerr for a Free Case Review

The suspicion that your loved one is being abused in a nursing home can leave you feeling helpless, but you have options. With our nursing home neglect lawyers on your side, you can ensure that the facility and its personnel are appropriately investigated and held accountable for any harm they have caused your family member through neglect or intentional physical abuse.

What your family needs now is an advocate who can fight to protect your loved one’s rights and draw upon their knowledge of the legal system to guide you through the claims process. For help from knowledgeable lawyers for nursing home neglect and abuse in Highland Park, NJ, contact The Law Offices of Harold J. Gerr online or call 732-537-8570 today.

Physical Abuse and Neglect Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)

Both physical abuse and neglect may leave visible signs, although they won’t necessarily do so.
Signs that may indicate physical abuse include:
Cuts, scrapes, bruises, friction burns, and open wounds
Injuries like sprains, broken bones, and head trauma, especially if they are unexplained or the explanation seems questionable
Damage to the resident’s property, such as eyeglasses, that could indicate a fall or physical assault
Warning signs that neglect is occurring in a nursing home include:
Injuries that could reasonably be caused by accidents, especially if those accidents are recurring or suggest proper safety precautions aren’t being taken
Bedsores or pressure sores that may suggest the resident is spending too much time stationary in bed or a chair
Signs of dehydration or malnourishment, such as losing an unhealthy amount of weight in a short time
Poor hygiene, especially if the nursing home resident requires assistance from personnel
Changes in sleeping patterns or habits
Signs of receiving improper medications or incorrect dosages of medications, such as appearing drugged and lethargic due to taking too much medication
Declines in health associated with improper nutrition, hydration, or medication dosage
Both physical abuse and neglect may contribute to sudden changes in your loved one's mental and emotional state and behavior. These changes can include mood swings, signs or verbal expressions of fear or depression, and withdrawal from social activities.
Your loved one may be reluctant to talk about the neglect or abuse, especially if they fear retaliation from the nursing home staff, feel embarrassed about or ashamed of the abuse, or are concerned about being a “burden” to other family members. Assure your family member that the abuse isn’t their fault and that there are ways to protect them. If your loved one denies being abused or neglected but you still have concerns, take advantage of a free case review to discuss your options with the New Jersey nursing home neglect lawyers at the Law Offices of Harold J. Gerr.
Our seasoned nursing home abuse and neglect lawyers can investigate the care your loved one is receiving at the nursing home and whether it falls short in ways that constitute neglect or abuse. We can file a lawsuit on your family’s behalf to hold the nursing home legally accountable and seek financial compensation for your family. If you have questions about how to move your loved one out of the nursing home for their safety, we can help you understand your legal rights and options and any obstacles that may arise.
Families dealing with nursing home abuse and neglect can retain professional legal assistance at no upfront cost from the Law Offices of Harold J. Gerr. We offer every potential client a free consultation so you can get your questions answered. Our nursing home neglect law firm represents clients on a contingency fee basis. This arrangement means we only collect payment if we have succeeded in getting your family financial compensation.