Bringing a loved one to a nursing home when they can no longer care for themselves is a major decision that many families wrestle with for a long time. Once you finally do make the decision after researching the best homes, it can be devastating to find out they have been abused. A nursing home abuse lawyer in St. Paul may be able to help.
At Postman Law, we know how heartbreaking it can be to learn of abuse, but we are here to help you navigate the legal process. As your personal injury lawyer in St. Paul, we are here to advocate for you and your family. We have helped families recover over $3 billion in damages, and we are ready to help you too.
Some Nursing Home Residents Cannot Speak Up for Themselves
Nursing home residents are not always able to tell someone when they are being mistreated. Dementia, memory loss, speech difficulties, strokes, and other medical conditions can make it difficult to describe an incident. A resident may only be able to communicate that they are frightened or uncomfortable.
Other residents stay quiet because they depend heavily on the people caring for them. Reporting a caregiver can feel frightening when that same person helps you eat, bathe, dress, or get out of bed. A resident may worry about what will happen when their family leaves.
This is why relatives should pay attention to changes that seem out of character. Becoming unusually quiet, refusing to be left alone with an employee, or suddenly resisting care can be worth asking about. Our nursing home abuse attorney in St. Paul can help you navigate your personal injury lawsuit in Minnesota.
For a free legal consultation with a lawyer serving St. Paul, call 844-767-8626
Neglect Can Happen Without Anyone Intending to Cause an Injury
Some residents are harmed because of what a caregiver does to them. Others are harmed because the care they need never happens. The end result can be just as serious, regardless of whether it is intentional abuse or neglect due to understaffing.
Consider if your loved one could not reposition themselves in bed. Without help, they may develop a pressure wound that eventually becomes infected. If they need assistance eating or drinking, they may become malnourished or dehydrated when employees do not spend enough time helping with meals.
The same problem can happen with fall precautions, hygiene, medication, and medical attention. Missing one task once may not cause an injury. When necessary care is skipped day after day, however, a vulnerable resident can decline quickly. Our lawyers with Postman Law look at all these factors when building your case.
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The Nursing Home May Be Responsible for the Actions of Its Staff
When a particular employee appears to have caused an injury, families naturally focus on that person. The investigation should not necessarily stop there. The way the facility hired, trained, scheduled, and supervised its employees can matter too. Questions may need to be asked about:
- Whether employees received appropriate training
- Whether enough staff members were working
- Whether previous complaints were taken seriously
- Whether the resident’s care plan was being followed
- Whether management knew about ongoing safety problems
- Whether staff received proper supervision
Sometimes an employee’s mistake is part of a much larger problem. A facility that repeatedly ignores complaints or continues unsafe practices may bear responsibility for the harm that follows. If you believe abuse occurred, you can file a report with the Minnesota Department of Health along with calling Postman Law.
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Delayed Medical Attention Can Turn a Small Problem Into an Emergency
Nursing home employees spend enough time with residents that they may be the first to notice a change in someone’s health. A fever, new confusion, unusual weakness, difficulty breathing, or a worsening wound can all be signs that something needs attention. Staff should not simply wait for a serious problem to resolve itself.
Older residents can deteriorate quickly. An untreated urinary tract infection can become much more serious, while a wound that is not properly treated can worsen or become infected. Delays can be especially dangerous for people who already have several health conditions such as diabetes.
When a resident ends up in the hospital, it can be important to look at what happened in the days leading up to that visit. Nursing notes and other records may show when symptoms first appeared, who was notified, and what employees did in response. Those details can help explain whether the resident received timely care and can be used by your St. Paul nursing home abuse lawyer to build your case.
Compensation Can Help Address What the Resident Lost
The immediate cost of an injury may include an ambulance ride, hospitalization, surgery, or additional medical treatment. A resident may also need rehabilitation or a higher level of care afterward. Some families decide they no longer feel comfortable leaving their loved one at the same facility. A nursing home abuse claim may address:
- Medical treatment related to the injury
- Rehabilitation and additional care
- Costs related to moving to another facility
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional harm caused by the mistreatment
- Disability or loss of mobility and independence
These cases are about more than adding up bills. Abuse or neglect can take away comfort, independence, and a resident’s sense of safety. When mistreatment contributes to a resident’s death, the family may also have additional legal options under Minnesota law.
A St. Paul Nursing Home Abuse Attorney at Postman Law Can Find Answers the Family Cannot Get Alone
Families should not be expected to build a nursing home abuse case themselves. Many of the most useful records are controlled by the facility, and medical questions can be difficult to answer without the right background. An attorney can take over that investigation. A nursing home abuse lawyer can:
- Obtain medical records, care plans, and facility documents
- Investigate staffing, supervision, and previous complaints
- Interview witnesses and work with medical experts
- Identify the people and companies that may be responsible
- Document the resident’s injuries and resulting losses
- Negotiate a resolution or pursue the case in court
You do not need photographs proving that an employee intentionally harmed your loved one before calling a lawyer. You may only have unexplained injuries, a concerning change in behavior, or a story from the facility that does not make sense. Finding out whether abuse or neglect occurred is part of our job.
Speak With a Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer in St. Paul
You and your family deserve peace of mind that your loved one is safe and cared for. At Postman Law, we are here to fight for the justice your family deserves. We deliver resultados. Contact us today to schedule your free, zero-obligation consultation to get started on your case.