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Rhode Island Elder/Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

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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 stretched way too thin. This, coupled with numerous other factors, can lead to elder/nursing home abuse, which to date, occurs in around 30% of all nursing homes across the United States. In the span of 24 months alone, early in the new millennium, there were more than 9,000 instances of abuse reported across the United States.

Elder/nursing home abuse can take many different forms, including physical, sexual, and psychological abuse; malnutrition; financial exploitation; and pure neglect. If you have made the difficult decision to place a family member in a nursing home, you and your family member shouldn't 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, suffered any kind of abuse in a nursing home, or suffered any type of abuse at the hands of another resident, you should contact a Rhode Island elder/nursing home abuse lawyer or attorney immediately. If you or someone you love has suffered any type of abuse at the hands of another resident, you should also contact a Rhode Island civil lawyer or attorney if you are seeking damages outside of the facility.

In 2003, a Certified Nurse's Assistant in East Providence was arrested for causing bodily injury to a dementia-suffering patient. Cases like this show how vulnerable nursing home residents truly are.

All facilities have the obligation to protect the rights of every single resident that they take care of. They also have an obligation to provide an attractive, clean, and healthy environment. They are also obligated to treat them equally, with no discrimination based on race, religion, color, nationality, ability or source of payment.

Nursing home facilities are required by federal law to provide written documentation called a Nursing Home Resident's Bill of Rights, and they are also required to make copies of this available to any resident who requests them. The Bill of Rights is intended to outline the policies of the specific nursing home, and before being admitted, the resident must sign a statement that indicates he or she has read and understood the rights. Some of the rights set forth in this document 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 one's own 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.

A Rhode Island elder/nursing home abuse lawyer or attorney will more than likely offer a free nursing home abuse consultation where they will 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 Rhode Island nursing home. Your abuse lawyer or attorney will also be well-versed in Rhode Island nursing home abuse laws, so they will be well-equipped to argue your case.

If you are ready to contact a Rhode Island elder/nursing home abuse lawyer or attorney, visit the website of the American Bar Association. The site features a lawyer locator to help you search for attorneys in your area.