Skilled Nursing Facility Abuse
A skilled nursing facility (SNF) is a distinct part of a hospital or a separate facility that provides continuous custody of elderly residents, along with extensive care for elderly patients who primarily need nursing care on an extended basis.
Licensed by the California Department of Public Health (DPH), these facilities are required to meet the state nursing home standards. They must be able to provide around-the-clock care, and at a minimum, include a physician and trained and skilled nursing staff, along with dietary and pharmaceutical services.
At Lanzone Morgan, we have seen that, in a large number of abuse cases, elderly residents are unable to convey to their family that they are being abused due to a physical or mental weakness. In some disturbing cases, they are threatened not to inform anyone. This applies immense pressure to their already frail state and leads to further health problems and mental complications as result of skilled nursing facility abuse.
As soon as you find out that an elder is being physically, mentally, or financially abused at a nursing facility, be sure to contact Lanzone Morgan at (562) 512-5505 for assistance.
A major problem in nursing facilities is a lack of staff. If there is ample staff, they are often not adequately trained to provide care for elderly residents.
Whether you are a caretaker or a family member, it is your responsibility to look for signs that may be pointing to abuse. You should look for signs like malnutrition, over-medication, unsanitary conditions, dehydration, bruises, or cuts. Behavioral changes like sudden mood swings, a fearful attitude towards staff members, and a progressively negative attitude are all pointers as well.
If you suspect that an elderly relative is facing abuse at the hands of staff members of a skilled nursing facility, you should immediately report it to the local police department and the California Department of Public Health.
It is devastating for family members to find out that an elderly loved one was being abused at the skilled nursing facility they chose for them. However, letting emotions cloud your judgments isn’t the best strategy in such a case. After you have removed the relative from the care facility, the next step should be to get legal help.
At Lanzone Morgan, we have a team of dedicated attorneys with years of practice in elder abuse cases. In our experience, we have come across a diverse range of abuse cases in which a staff member from a skilled nursing facility was involved. We believe it is our teamwork, experience, and close collaboration with affected families which enables us to get our clients what they rightfully deserve.
Elderly abuse cases are quite sensitive and need to be addressed with complete dedication. We are ready to provide all our clients with one-on-one private sessions, so you convey the entire case and your expectations effectively.
Contact us online or call (562) 512-5505 to schedule a free consultation.
