Warning Signs of Nursing Home Abuse in Thornton
Choosing to place your loved one in a nursing home is not easy. It can take months or even years to find the right fit for your family, which makes it all the more upsetting when the facility you trusted to care for your loved one ends up hurting them instead.
Being aware of the common warning signs of nursing home abuse in Thornton can help you ensure that you are ready to take legal action if needed. If you suspect your loved one is being mistreated, do not hesitate to get in touch with a dedicated nursing home abuse attorney to learn about your legal options.
Possible Signs of Nursing Home Abuse
Thornton nursing home residents can suffer harm through negligence or intentional abuse. Because many nursing home residents are either unwilling or unable to describe their abuse, the burden of proving exactly what happened often lies with the resident’s family.
If someone suspects that their family member is suffering abuse, they should look for the following physical signs of abuse:
- Poor hygiene
- Dehydration
- Unexplained cuts or bruises
- Bedsores
- Sudden weight loss
- Infections
- Broken bones
In addition to physical changes in their loved one’s body, family members should also look for emotional, personality, or behavioral changes. It could be indicative of abuse if their loved one suddenly becomes fearful or agitated, particularly in the presence of a certain staff member. Families should also be wary if their loved one suddenly becomes depressed or more withdrawn and refuses to participate in everyday activities.
Family members should also be suspicious if a nursing home suddenly changes their visiting hours or denies a family access to their loved one after an unexplained injury.
Taking Swift Legal Action Against Nursing Home Abuse is Crucial
Anyone who notices signs of nursing home abuse in a loved one should get in touch with a Thornton attorney right away. Compassionate local attorneys understand how serious claims of nursing home abuse are and know what evidence to look for. A seasoned attorney could begin an investigation to determine precisely what happened.
If a family waits too long, critical evidence could disappear. People’s memories of events fade with time. The nursing home could reassign staff members or move residents around to escape liability. The nursing home could also move potentially incriminating evidence away from the site or clean it. If a nursing home employee fears losing their job or a criminal investigation, they could take further steps and impede the investigation by purposely destroying evidence.
In addition to these evidentiary concerns, potential claimants to a personal injury lawsuit must also be aware of statutory timing concerns. Colorado generally requires that claimants file lawsuits within two years of an injury, so it is important to retain legal assistance as early as possible to give an attorney ample time to prepare a case.
Reach Out to a Thornton Attorney Regarding Warning Signs of Nursing Home Abuse
Watching your loved one suffer harm at the hands of the nursing home staff that you trusted to care for them is unimaginable. If you believe that your parent suffered an injury due to nursing home abuse or negligence, you probably face many different feelings, including anger or guilt.
You deserve to hold the negligent nursing home liable for their behavior. An attorney who understands the warning signs of nursing home abuse in Thornton could help you identify and stop the abuse. Give us a call today to get started.
