Making the decision to put a loved one in a nursing home can induce stress even if everything works out for the best. However, if your loved one suffers abuse or neglect while under the care of the nursing home staff, a stressful situation can become criminal. Knowing how to prove nursing home abuse in New Jersey is crucial for people who want to protect their loved ones residing in a nursing facility.
Disfigurement
If a nursing home resident suffers disfigurement because of the actions of another person, he or she may have a disfigurement case against the nursing home. Disfigurement covers a wide range of possibilities, ranging from scars to amputation to hair loss. The law protects both the safety and dignity of nursing home residents.
Loss of enjoyment
Most states allow for nursing home residents and their families to file suit against the facility if the nursing home interfered with the resident’s ability to lead a normal life. To determine “loss of enjoyment,” the judge or jury will determine if the nursing home took actions that caused the resident to no longer enjoy the normal pleasures of life. This can include losing the ability to walk or engage with others.
Shortened life expectancy
When you make the difficult decision to put a loved one in a nursing home, you do so with the assumption that he or she will receive high-quality medical care. Most courts won’t view shortened life expectancy as a separate injury but may take it into consideration when determining financial damages.
If you or a loved one has suffered abuse or neglect at the hands of a nursing home staff, you should immediately contact a personal injury attorney. This attorney may review the medical records of the resident and collect evidence that the nursing home is responsible for their injuries.