Norfolk Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

New Plan Aims to Eradicate Nursing Home Abuse and Negligence in the U.S.

by | August 11th, 2014

When our loved ones are unable to care for themselves, using a home care provider or nursing home’s services may be the best way to ensure they receive the medical attention they need. On the other hand, nursing home abuse rates are through the roof.

The National Center for Elder Abuse reports that as many as 1 in 3 nursing home residents will become victims of abuse or negligence. Experts are quick to point out this estimate may be on the low end though, considering a large number of cases may go unreported.

Officials are hoping to curb the number of elderly patients who are harmed each year by creating a new plan to address the problem. The Elder Justice Roadmap lays out five priorities that are key to combating nursing home abuse, and they include:

  1. Awareness- Finding new and innovative ways to educate the public about nursing home abuse through improved policies and research is crucial.
  2. Brain Health- Improving patient brain function through focused research is believed to also have a significant impact on nursing home abuse rates.
  3. Caregiving- Providing better support and training to healthcare workers.
  4. Economics- Pinning down the costs associated with nursing home abuse will also work to dissuade the behavior.
  5. Resources- Investment in resources to support victims of nursing home abuse is important to victims’ recovery.

The Norfolk personal injury lawyers with Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers are hopeful these changes will successfully bring an end to nursing home abuse in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Virginia Nursing Home Accused of Resident Abuse

by | August 27th, 2012

August 27, 2012

A study conducted by the Special Investigations Division of the House Government Reform Committee found that 30 percent of nursing homes in the United States—5,283 facilities—were cited for almost 9,000 instances of abuse over a recent two-year period.

One such case of Norfolk nursing home abuse has come out of a facility in Staunton after allegations of sexual assault on a resident surfaced. According to the News Leader, the allegations came after an inspection by the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) found numerous cases of safety violations and staff negligence.

Documents show that 47-year-old staff member sexually assaulted a 53-year old patient when he inappropriately touched her in May. Since then, a 43-year-old female patient has also come forward saying the same staff member assaulted her.

The man has been fired and charged in connection with the incident, along with a hospital administrator who failed to report the abuse. Another staff member could also be charged in connection to the incidents.

The findings came after the VDH cited negligence on the part of staff for such violations as medication errors and infection risks to patients.

The Norfolk Personal Injury Lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley say that there is no excuse for elderly folks living in these types of facilities to be treated without the upmost respect and care and are here to help you if your loved one has been injured by another person’s neglect.