If you have a loved one that recently passed away under the care of a nursing home, retirement home or was receiving care by a private caregiver and you feel that the negligence of the facility or caregiver caused or contributed to their death, you may have the basis for a California wrongful death lawsuit. Sadly, elder abuse is more prevalent in the United States than most of us realize. Statistics of reported incidents tell us they over one million seniors are abused every year by caregivers or staff at long-term care facilities, nursing home or even in the privacy of their own home. Experts believe that the prevalence of abuse and neglect is actually much higher as many incidents go unreported.
Every year, millions of families face the decision to put their loved one in a long-term care facility, nursing home, retirement home or to hire a private caregiver for their elderly loved one. After making the difficult decision to do so, we assume that our loved one will be well cared for and treated with the respect they deserve. Most of the time, this is exactly what happens, but studies show us that sometimes the very people that we count on to take care of our elderly loved one is actually abusing or neglecting them. Elder abuse and neglect can come in many forms. If your loved one has been the victim of elder abuse, they may have been pushed, shoved or restrained. While abuse such as this is unacceptable and illegal under any circumstances, it can have devastating consequences when the victim is elderly. A single fall for a senior citizen can lead to fatal consequences. Additionally, neglect can lead to, or contribute to, the death of a senior citizen. Neglect can come in the form of failure to attend to the hygiene or medical needs of an elderly patient. Leaving a patient in bed for an extended period of time can produce bedsores that can become infected. Not adhering to the required medicine schedule of a patient can lead to medical complications and even death.
As we age, we typically require additional health monitoring and many of us require a daily regimen of prescription drugs or supplements to keep us healthy. If a caregiver fails to administer those medications as required, they may be found to be negligent. If a caregiver’s actions of a staff member’s action at a care facility caused or contributed to the death of your loved one, then you may be able to file as the claimant in a California wrongful death lawsuit. A wrongful death lawsuit is generally filed by a surviving family member. In a wrongful death lawsuit, the claimant may be able to receive compensation for the loss affection, love and support of the decedent. A California wrongful death lawsuit cannot turn back the clock and prevent the death of your loved one, however if someone was responsible, in whole or in part, for their death, then it can hold them accountable.
For more information on elder abuse or wrongful death lawsuits, please feel free to contact California elder abuse and wrongful death attorney Emery Ledger of Ledger & Associates at 1-800-300-0001 or visit him online at www.ledgerlaw.com.
