Nursing Home Neglect in WA

Kennewick Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Lawyers

Caring representation for seniors harmed by negligence or abuse in WA

Life expectancy is increasing every year. As seniors age, many become residents of nursing homes for medical reasons and social reasons. With quality care, seniors should be able to enjoy their lives into their 70s, 80s, 90s, and even their 100s. When nursing homes fail to make the care of their residents their top priority, residents may be abused by staff members of the home itself. Nursing homes should be held accountable when they fail to respect the rights of your parents and grandparents. They should be liable when preventable harm occurs.

At Telaré Law, our Kennewick nursing home neglect and abuse lawyers hold nursing homes accountable for placing profits before the health of your loved one. We fight for seniors because we understand that if one senior is being harmed, then many other seniors in the nursing home are likely being harmed too. Our lawyers understand that many seniors have difficulty speaking for themselves. That’s why our medical malpractice lawyers are honored to be the voice of your loved one – to say nursing homes need to vet their staff, have protocols in place to prevent abuse before it happens, and to respond immediately when it does. Lawsuits are the best way to send a message to nursing homes that abuse and neglect must stop – now.

What are the types of nursing home abuse and neglect in Kennewick?

There are numerous nursing homes in the Tri-Cities region. Every home should take proactive and responsive steps to prevent nursing home abuse. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),  senior abuse is either an intentional act or a failure to act – that causes harm to a senior 60 or older or creates a risk of harm to the senior.

The CDC defines the types of nursing home abuse as follows:

  • Physical abuse. This type of abuse includes the intentional use of physical force – such as pushing, slapping, burning, hitting, or kicking a senior. Physical abuse also includes physical restraints, chemical restraints, and failure to give a resident his/her medication. Physical force can cause inability to use a body part, distress, and death.
  • Sexual abuse. This type of abuse involves “forced or unwanted sexual interaction of any kind with an older adult.” This may include unwanted sexual contact or penetration or non-contact acts such as sexual harassment. Examples of sexual abuse include any unwanted touching or sexual interaction. Many seniors are unable to give consent due to mental and cognitive difficulties.
  • Emotional or psychological abuse. This type of abuse includes verbal and nonverbal behaviors by staff members to try to control, punish, or place a senior in fear or distress. Examples include not respecting the senior, threats, isolating the senior, humiliation, and harassment.
  • Financial abuse. Nursing homes and staff members often try to take advantage of seniors by pressuring them to sign powers of attorney, stealing their money, making unauthorized charges on credit cards, and taking possession of the senior’s property. Financial abuse also includes improper bank account withdrawals and creating guardianships or conservatorships in the name of a non-relative.
  • Neglect. Nursing homes need to design and manage their facilities to prevent falls, make sure the patients take their medications, have clean clothes, essential medical care, and proper nutrition.

What are the signs of abuse or neglect in nursing homes?

Seniors who are being abused are often afraid to complain. They rely on family and friends to speak for them. Some of the signs of abuse that children, other relatives, and friends should look for include:

  • Bruises, cuts, and other signs of physical abuse
  • Bedsores
  • Malnutrition or dehydration
  • Anxiety and depression
  • Nonparticipation in nursing home activities
  • Insomnia
  • Thoughts of wanting to die
  • Unexplained financial withdrawals
  • Bad hygiene
  • Indications a senior isn’t taking his/her medications

The sooner family and friends speak with our Kennewick nursing home abuse lawyers, the sooner we can take legal action to stop the abuse and protect your loved one.

What are the common nursing home abuse and neglect injuries?

Seniors have enough health problems when they are treated well. When nursing homes fail to provide quality care, a senior’s health difficulties can quickly spiral out of control. Injuries need to be treated as quickly as possible. Some of the injuries caused by nursing home abuse or neglect include:

  • Head trauma, fractures, spinal cord damage, and internal bleeding from falls
  • Bedsores
  • Nutritional injuries
  • Burns
  • Behavioral injuries caused by emotional abuse
  • Financial damages

If injuries are not treated in a timely and competent manner, a nursing home senior could die. In these tragic events, our Kennewick nursing home lawyers file wrongful death actions on behalf of the spouse, children, and any other residents who have a right to compensation.

What are the causes of nursing home abuse and neglect?

Nursing home abuse in Southeast Washington is often due to one or more of the following reasons:

  • Failure to follow federal and state nursing home laws and regulations
  • Failure to comply with nursing home industry safety standards
  • Not running background checks on new employees
  • Failing to have policies and procedures in place to monitor abuse and neglect
  • Not responding to complaints by seniors
  • Not hiring enough competent staff members for all seniors
  • Other reasons that depend on your loved ones’ each individual case

At Telaré Law, we work with nursing home professionals who understand everything nursing homes should be doing to protect their residents. We speak with the senior, other residents, and any witnesses. Our Kennewick nursing home lawyers discuss your senior’s claim with the treating physicians. We work aggressively to build as strong a case as possible.

What laws govern Washington nursing homes?

There are numerous laws that protect residents of nursing homes. Some of these laws are:

  • The Washington State Department of Social and Health Services’ mandatory reporting requirements. Reporting the Abuse, Abandonment, Neglect, Self-Neglect, and Financial Exploitation of Vulnerable Adults.
  • Washington State Law. Chapter 70.129 RCW: LONG-TERM CARE RESIDENT RIGHTS states the rights every nursing home senior has.
  • The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) rules and regulations.

Washington has a Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program to advocate for nursing home residents and residents of other types of senior care facilities.

Often, the strongest and best way to hold nursing homes and staff members accountable is to force them to pay financial damages by filing a nursing home abuse and neglect lawsuit.

What rights do Kennewick nursing home residents have?

Nursing home residents, as set forth in state law, have numerous rights including the right to:

  • Be informed of the facility’s services
  • Access the nursing home rules and regulations
  • Notification of any changes to the living conditions
  • Daily communications
  • Adequate medical and personal care
  • Participate in health decisions
  • Refuse physical or chemical restraints
  • Select their own doctors
  • Privacy and confidentiality
  • Dignity and respect
  • Manage their finances
  • File a complaint if abuse or neglect occurs
  • Notification of any transfer or discharge
  • Complain without fear of reprisals
  • Visitors including family, friends, and family doctors
  • Other rights listed in the state statute

CMS also requires that nursing home residents be given a list of all their rights.

What is my Kennewick nursing home abuse case worth?

The life of a senior is precious. They have the right to enjoy every day they have left to the fullest. Our nursing home abuse lawyers demand compensation for:

  • All reasonable and necessary medical bills for the rest of the senior’s life
  • Any lost income and financial damage
  • The senior’s physical pain, emotional anxiety, loss of sexual function, and any other personal damages
  • The loss of quality of life due to the abuse or neglect

If a nursing home knew of the abuse and failed to act, we file a claim for punitive damages. If your loved one succumbs to his or her injuries, we can file a wrongful death claim.

Do you have a nursing home abuse and neglect lawyer near me?

Telaré Law maintains an office in Kennewick at 819 South Auburn St. We also have an office in Richland. We meet with seniors at the nursing home or a family home when necessary.

Get help from an experienced Kennewick lawyer now

Don’t delay. When nursing home abuse occurs, you need to move quickly to ensure the health of the senior and to ensure the abuse or neglect stops as quickly as possible. At Telaré Law, we only represent personal injury victims. Insurance adjusters for nursing homes understand that we are ready to take every case we handle to a jury trial. Our success in court is why we settle many cases.

To discuss how to hold nursing homes and staff members liable, call our Kennewick injury lawyers at 509-737-8500 or use our contact form to arrange a time to speak with us for free. We represent nursing home abuse and neglect victims who live in Kennewick, Richland, Pasco, Walla Walla, Pullman, Othello, Moses Lake, Ritzville, and all Southeast Washington.

Attorney George Telquist