Pennsylvania Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys
Aggressively Pursuing the Justice You & Your Family Deserve
When a loved one enters a nursing home or assisted living facility, you believe that the nursing home’s staff will provide them with the best possible care. You expect them to take care of your loved one the way he or she deserves. Unfortunately, that is not always the case.
The Pennsylvania nursing home abuse lawyers at Fellerman & Ciarimboli Law PC understand the sensitive nature of these types of cases. For over 20 years, we have fought for the rights of the elderly in Philadelphia, Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, and throughout Pennsylvania. We have taken on large assisted care facilities and are ready to fight for you, both in and out of the courtroom.
Learn more about The Golden Living Center. It is a nursing home chain was recently named in a lawsuit filed by the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General.
If you or a loved one is the victim of nursing home abuse or neglect in Pennsylvania, contact our firm online or call us at (877) 989-4878 to request a free, confidential consultation today.
Nursing Home Statistics in Pennsylvania
It’s a fact—Americans are living longer than ever before in history. According to U.S. Census Bureau 2017 Detailed Population Estimates, Pennsylvania’s elderly population has been growing more rapidly than the general population, increasing by 16.3 percent from 2010 to 2017.
With the increase in the number of elderly adults living in the state, there has also been an increase in the number of seniors living in assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and other long-term care homes. Unfortunately, this has also led to more instances of seniors suffering abuse and neglect at the hands of trusted care providers. The National Ombudsman Reporting System found that there were 2,667 complaints of nursing home abuse in Pennsylvania in 2018.
When you look at the statistics, it’s astonishing; approximately 1 in 10 Americans over age 60 have experienced some form of elder abuse. At Fellerman & Ciarimboli Law PC, we believe that this is simply unacceptable.
Types of Elder Abuse
Elder and nursing home abuse can fall into these five categories:
- Physical Abuse: This is the most easily recognizable form of abuse. Physical abuse includes hitting, pushing, slapping, and other physical attacks on seniors. It can result in injury or pain and, in the worst cases, death. According to the National Council on Aging, those who have experienced abuse had a 300 percent higher risk of death when compared to those who haven’t.
- Neglect: Similar to physical abuse, neglect has physical and emotional consequences. However, unlike physical abuse, elder neglect lacks an element of intent. Rather, neglect occurs when elders’ needs are not properly provided for. Examples include failing to provide sufficient nutrition, failing to provide medications, and failing to provide proper hygienic services.
- Sexual Abuse: Forced or unwanted sexual interaction of any type is a form of sexual abuse. This can include unwanted touching, sexual assault, rape, and other forms of abuse. Sexual harassment is also considered sexual abuse; it can include sexual or suggestive comments, derogatory statements of a sexual nature, threats, and more.
- Psychological Abuse: Verbal or non-verbal behaviors that can inflict fear, anxiety, or any type of mental distress fall in this category. Examples include name-calling, yelling, belittling, and humiliation. One study found that verbal abuse leads to greater declines in mental health in older women than physical abuse.
- Financial Abuse: Financial exploitation can cause a huge economic loss for not only the elderly but for businesses and government programs. Financial exploitation of seniors costs older Americans $2.6 billion on an annual basis. Financial abuse occurs when a caregiver or another person gains access to an elderly individual’s finances, including bank accounts or estate planning documents.
How Does Nursing Home Abuse Happen?
Nursing home abuse and neglect is so abhorrent, it’s sometimes difficult to imagine how it can occur. Unfortunately, there are many causes and risk factors for nursing home abuse in facilities throughout Pennsylvania and the United States.
Some contributing factors include:
- Staff shortages
- Inadequately trained employees
- Negligent hiring practices by the nursing home
- Inadequately maintained facilities, causing dangerous and hazardous conditions
Warning Signs of Abuse
You may have your suspicions that your loved one is a victim of elder abuse in his or her nursing home or other assisted living facility. And, in fact, there are several warning signs that you should be aware of that can indicate abuse or neglect.
Join us for Walk-In Wednesdays from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM at our convenient locations in Honesdale, Berwick, and Scranton. If you find yourself in need of legal advice, our dedicated team of attorneys is here to assist you at no cost. Take advantage of this opportunity to address your concerns and get the guidance you need. Your legal questions deserve answers – visit us on Wednesdays and let us help you navigate your legal matters with confidence.
