Nursing home abuse involves intentional conduct rather than negligence. It is often directed at a specific person, and it becomes a pattern. It can involve physical, psychological, or even financial abuse.

Elderly individuals are easy targets for predators. They are physically and mentally unprotected. Many nursing home patients cannot even speak. A Charleston WV personal injury lawyer from Freeman & Chiartas wants friends and family members of nursing home residents to be reminded that both state and federal law require West Virginia nursing homes to establish and promote written policies, guidelines and procedures in connection with the rights of residents. A statement detailing those rights must be prominently displayed at every nursing home in the state.

Regardless of legislative intentions, nursing home abuse continues in West Virginia. Here are some common forms of it:

• Physical and verbal threats
• Emotional threats and manipulation
• Physical and sexual abuse of patients
• Financial exploitation of patients

In most cases, it is the nursing home itself that is held liable for damages suffered by a patient as a result of abuse. Some common causes of action might include the failure to conduct background checks on job applicants, poor training or the failure to monitor employee behavior.

When a nursing home patient is abused in West Virginia, the patient or their family can pursue a personal injury case for damages to recover compensation for that patient’s injuries or death. By having the nursing home held accountable, our nursing home abuse attorneys help to improve the the care and treatment that all of a facility’s patients receive.

If you suspect the physical, mental, sexual or financial abuse of a family member who is a patient in a West Virginia nursing home, contact a Charleston WV personal injury lawyer at Freeman & Chiartas. You can arrange for a free consultation and case evaluation. Abusive behavior in nursing homes must be stopped.