An increasing portion of the United States’ population is reaching old age, which means that more people are turning to nursing homes to provide care. While a large number of nursing homes are capable of providing top notch care, some nursing homes fail to provide patients with the appropriate level of treatment, and residents end up abused in either a financial or physical manner. In cases of elder abuse, you need the assistance of our nursing home abuse attorneys. We have handled similar cases and know what it takes to obtain the results you deserve.
Ohio Elder Abuse Laws
In Ohio, federal and state laws apply to elder abuse. The Older Americans Act is a federal law that was created to protect the elderly from abuse through several preventative legislative programs.
State law in Ohio also requires that professional caregivers as well as clergy, physicians, and anyone who discovers the abuse in a personal or professional capacity to report any suspected occurrence of elderly abuse to the applicable county’s Department of Job and Family Services. Ohio’s Adult Protective Services department is then tasked with addressing these allegations, which involves investigating the report as well as meeting with the victim and the person alleged to have committed the abuse.
Signs of Elder Abuse
Elder abuse can be emotional, financial, physical, and sexual. Furthermore, the abuse is not always obvious. It is important for family members to remain watchful for various signs of abuse, which include the following:
Anal or vaginal bleeding that is not connected to a medical condition
Bloody, stained, or torn underwear
Broken eyeglasses
Bruising or scars on the body
Caregivers who control or threaten the elderly individual
Caregivers who refuse to let loved ones be alone with the elderly individual
Changes in the elderly individual’s financial situation
Failure to take medications properly
Signs of restraint
Unexplained broken bones
Unexplained genital infections or STDs
Unexplained withdrawals from a person’s bank account
Unsafe living conditions including fire hazards and lack of heat
Speak with our Seasoned Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys
When nursing home abuse occurs, victims as well as their families are frequently left uncertain about how to proceed. For this reason, nursing home abuse often goes unreported. If you or a family member has been impacted by nursing home abuse, contact the nursing home abuse attorneys at Kruger & Hodges today to find out about your legal options for compensation.
