Kansas Elder/Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

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In recent years, there have been reports of everything from medication tampering to sexual assault in numerous elder care facilities and nursing homes across the state of Kansas. According the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), a division of the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), there are more than 18,000 nursing homes across America with 1.6 million residents.

Unfortunately, the National Center on Elder Abuse reports that more than 50% of nursing homes are understaffed, which leads to stress and frustration among staff members who are already dealing with delicate situations on a day to day basis. This, coupled with numerous other factors, can lead to elder/nursing home abuse and neglect, which currently occurs in around 30% of all nursing homes across the United States.

In 2005, a Shawnee, Kansas nursing home employee was accused of inappropriately touching a 70-year-old female patient and stealing medication from patients. The nursing home had just passed a state safety board investigation. Cases like this show just how vulnerable nursing home residents can be.

All nursing home or elder care facilities have an obligation to protect the rights of every single resident, and to provide an attractive, clean, and healthy environment. They are also obligated to treat residents equally, with no discrimination based on race, religion, color, nationality, ability or source of payment. Nursing home facilities are required by federal law to compose a Nursing Home Resident's Bill of Rights, which they are also required to make available to any resident upon request. The Bill of Rights outlines all policies of the specific nursing home, and each facility must require residents to sign a statement, indicating they have read and understood these rights, before admittance. Specific rights include the right to be informed about one's specific medical condition and treatment, the right to participate in planning one's care and medical treatment, the right to choose a physician, the right to manage personal finances, the right to privacy, dignity, and respect, the right to personal possessions, the right to be free from restraints and abuse in nursing homes, the right to voice grievance without retaliation, the right to be discharged or transferred only for medical reasons, and the rights of access.

Elder/nursing home abuse can take many different forms, and can range from physical, sexual, or psychological abuse to malnutrition, financial exploitation, and pure neglect. Some of the more obvious signs of abuse include bruises, bedsores, broken bones, cuts or lacerations, abrupt changes in mood or behavior on the part of the resident, and an unclean or neglected living environment. Neglect may take other forms, as well, and may include inadequate medical care, inattention to hygiene or bathing, insufficient nutrition, and inadequate provision of help for mobility or other standard-of-living issues.

No one should have to suffer through any type of neglect or abuse at the hands of a caregiver or even other residents. If you suspect that someone you love has been abused or mistreated in a nursing home, or has suffered any type of abuse at the hands of another resident, you should contact a Kansas elder/nursing home abuse lawyer or attorney. You should also contact a Kansas civil lawyer or attorney if you are seeking damages outside of the facility.

After you have contacted a Kansas elder/nursing home abuse attorney, he or she will schedule a consultation in order to evaluate your case, explain your legal rights, and assess any damages they feel you are entitled to as a result of any abuse or neglect caused by a Kansas nursing home. An elder/nursing home abuse lawyer or attorney will also be well-versed in federal and state laws, so they will be well-equipped to argue your case.

If you are ready to contact a Kansas elder/nursing home abuse lawyer or attorney, visit the website of the American Bar Association. The site features a lawyer locator, which can help you locate a suitable attorney. Access is absolutely free.

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