Has Someone You Love Suffered Nursing Abuse or Neglect?

The Goss Law Firm — Your Kansas City Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys

Placing your loved ones into a nursing home, assisted-living facility or other long-term-care environment is always a difficult decision.

You may have hoped that your loved one could stay in his or her home, or that you and your family could provide care in your own household.  Although you would want nothing more than to be with them, your lifestyle and loved one’s needs may prevent this from being possible.

While this can be an incredibly emotional decision to make, when you select a quality facility, your worries should be put at ease. When you entrust your family member to professionals, you place your faith in them to take care of your loved one and always treat them with the utmost dignity and respect.

Tragically, abuse and neglect of our loved ones inside nursing home facilities are far too common.

Signs of Nursing Home Abuse

Healthcare professionals and other caregivers have a duty to ensure the well-being of those we place in their care. If your loved one shows any signs of abuse or neglect, such as unexplained bruises, broken bones, odd sprains or other suspicious marks, you’re sure to have questions. Those questions deserve answers. Common claims of abuse or negligence often include:

    • Physical, Emotional, or Sexual Abuse
    • Caregiver Neglect or Abandonment
    • Financial Abuse, Theft or Fraud

We Are Here to Help You

At the Goss Law Firm, we understand that abuse of our loved ones is an abuse of our trust. We know how devastating nursing home abuse is, and how upset, angry and violated you feel. Your loved one is vulnerable, and we want to give a voice to the voiceless. We fight to hold abusive or neglectful caregivers, and the facilities that hire them, to the highest possible standards of accountability. Our skilled, dedicated attorneys can review the details of your situation and help you find the answers you need. We will guide you through the entire legal process, and help your loved one get justice.


Kansas City Nursing Home Abuse Frequently Asked Questions

Some of the most common questions we get from clients about nursing home abuse and neglect in Missouri are listed below.

Contact the attorneys at Goss Law Firm immediately if you have any additional questions or if you believe your loved one has been harmed while in a nursing home. To schedule a free, no-risk legal consultation, call 816-888-5000 or fill out the form below.

What Rights Do Nursing Homes Residents Have? 

In a long-term care facility, residents have the same legal rights as the rest of the community. Several federal and state statutes, however, protect residents in nursing homes and assisted living institutions from abuse and neglect. The law emphasizes human dignity and self-determination, requiring nursing facilities to “promote and safeguard the rights of each resident.” A resident of a facility also has the right to:

  • Be free from mental and physical abuse
  • Be informed of their medical condition
  • Select their physician
  • Participate in planning their care
  • Refuse treatment
  • Voice grievances
  • Be treated with respect and dignity
  • Have treatments provided in privacy

 

What Are Common Signs of Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect?

Nursing home abuse can take a variety of forms. A few common warning signs can help identify many incidents of physical abuse, financial abuse, and neglect. If you visit a nursing home patient on a regular basis, look for these signs if you feel your loved one is being abused or neglected at a long-term care facility or nursing home:

  • Unexplained fractures, broken bones, or bruising
  • Unexplained scars or lacerations on the body
  • Inconsistent or improper dosage of medications
  • Signs of restraint, including marks on wrists or ankles
  • Physical or emotional withdrawal
  • Disappearance of personal items
  • Unusual behavioral change such as thumb sucking, rocking back and forth, or increased signs of dementia
  • Unexplained STDs or other infections in intimate areas
  • Bedsores
  • Infrequent bathing or leaving a resident in dirty clothing
  • Soiled bed, dirty linens, bed bugs
  • Unusual weight loss or weight gain
  • Dehydration
  • Sudden or unusual financial transactions

 

What Steps Should I Take After Discovering Abuse or Neglect?

If you sense that something is wrong, trust your instinct and take action to report your concerns. The next step is to document the situation and remove your loved one from the situation immediately. It is essential to seek help from elder care attorneys as soon as possible after an incident involving neglect or abuse occurs. Consulting with a nursing home attorney should occur if you suspect abuse or neglect in a nursing home facility.

 

How Can Poorly Managed Staff Lead to Abuse or Neglect?

Nursing home neglect occurs all too frequently in nursing homes and long-term care institutions throughout Missouri as a result of insufficiently trained staff, careless hiring, or understaffing. Since Medicare does not mandate a minimum resident-to-staff ratio, many nursing homes have too few employees and too many patients. Some employees are unprepared to deal with the physical and psychological difficulties that come with caring for the elderly and disabled. As a result, vulnerable nursing home residents may be subjected to neglect or abuse.

 

How Long Can It Take To Resolve A Nursing Home Abuse Case? 

Lawsuits are a lengthy process. On average, nursing home cases can take anywhere from 18 to 24 months, or longer, from the initial call to trial and judgment or obtaining final payment from a settlement if the case was resolved before trial. It may take several months to settle a nursing home abuse lawsuit. How long it will take typically depends on settlement negotiations. Some lawsuits may reach settlements right before or even during a trial.

 

What Types of Compensation Can My Loved One Or Our Family Receive After A Nursing Home Abuse Claim? 

Your loved one and family may be eligible for financial compensation if you discover indications that your loved one is not being monitored at a nursing home.  Some victims of nursing home abuse or neglect may be eligible for legal fees and medical expenses that incurred as a result of an avoidable injury. If you are considering legal action, speaking with a lawyer who is knowledgeable with cases similar to yours may be beneficial.

 

How Long Do I Have To File A Lawsuit With A Nursing Home In Missouri? 

The statute of limitations is an important factor in your case. Because there are various statutes of limitations, nursing home abuse and neglect charges can be complicated. If a nursing home resident survives an injury caused by neglect, a medical malpractice claim must be filed within two years of the damage being found or reasonably should have been detected. There is a three-year statute of limitations for filing a wrongful death lawsuit when a resident is wrongly murdered as a result of nursing home abuse, neglect, or negligence. To avoid being prevented from receiving compensation, it is best to file a claim as soon as possible.


If your loved one has suffered harm while in a nursing home, the Goss Law Firm is ready to help. Contact our office today at 816-888-5000 to schedule a free, no-risk legal consultation.


We Stand for You

Until it happens to someone you love, you never understand the feeling of hopelessness that follows institutional abuse or neglect case. At the Goss Law Firm, we have seen that pain firsthand. This knowledge fuels our compassion—and strengthens our resolve to guide victims and their families through difficult times.

Free consultation: Call or complete the contact form below to learn more about how we can help.

 If you or someone you love have suffered neglect or abuse caused by the negligence or carelessness of others, let the Goss Law Firm explain your rights and legal options. Call us today at 816-888-5000 to schedule your free consultation.

 The Goss Law Firm — Your Kansas City Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys