Signs of Elder Abuse in California
Elder Abuse Attorney in Sacramento
As people become older, they can also often become more vulnerable to abuse. Nursing homes, medical professionals, and caregivers may misuse their position of authority in a senior's life and treat them poorly. Abuses can range from physical and emotional harm, to financial or healthcare fraud. If you suspect that there has been wrongs committed against your elderly loved one, then you should make sure to get in contact with the Sacramento nursing home abuse attorney, Daniel Newman. He has won significantly high and positive settlements for his clients.
Looking for Certain Marks of Abuse
It is important to be on the lookout for potential signs of abuse so as to protect your loved one from future harm. To help you make sure that your elder is not getting abused, below are some warning signs to look for when understanding elder abuse.
Though elders are often at risk for many accidents because their body is failing, frequent and unexplained injuries may be more than just an accident.
If you see any of the signs below, your elderly loved may be a victim:
- Mysterious bruises, cuts and scars, especially if they are on both sides of the body
- Swelling or inflammation
- Broken glasses, hearing aids, or any other medical devices that are attached to their person
- Broken or injured bones
- Failure to take medication, or overdose on medication, which you may be able to tell by the amount left in their prescription
- Signs of restraint, such as chaffing at the wrists or ankles
Elders may feel anger at their loss of independence; however, extreme behavioral changes may signify emotional abuse. If you hear reports or witness of threats of a caretaker chastising or belittling the elder, then they could be mistreating your elder. In addition, if you see that a senior has become recently depressed, withdrawn, or fearful, then that may be another sign that a caretaker is verbally abusing that individual.
While it can be relieving to have another person in charge of the elder's finances, it is important to make sure that the caretaker has accountability. Having one person in charge of all the elder's money leaves the elder quite vulnerable.
To see if your elder is being abused, look for the following:
- Unexplained account withdrawals
- Missing items
- Name additions to a credit card or bank account
- Changes in wills, trusts, or policies
- General decrease in financial situation
Elders may experience sexual abuse when they are forced to engage in or watch sexual acts without their consent. Sign of sexual abuse may include bruises around the genitals, vaginal or anal bleeding, and torn or blood-stained undergarments. Another sign would be a recently contracted sexually transmitted disease or infection.
A caregiver should provide at least the most basic care for a senior, when they are no longer able to do it on their own.
If they provide the following as a form of care, then they are guilty of neglect:
- Unsanitary or unsafe living conditions
- Lack of proper hygiene
- Malnutrition or dehydration
- Physical problems that are not treated
- Desertion
Those who are bedridden, severely mentally handicapped, or isolated are more at risk for these types of abuses. For elders in these situations, it is all the more important that you frequently inquire about their well-being and keep tabs on their caregivers. To prevent physical abuse, talk to their doctor about their injuries. You may not be able to see all bruises, or know about any new diseases, so make sure that they get a regular check-up.
Make an appointment with our office to speak with Attorney Daniel Newman, whose clients describe as diligent, tough, and knowledgeable. Call us today so we can begin fighting for you!
Hear It From Our Clients
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Dan genuinely cares about the elderly and disabled
“Dan was invaluable in helping me achieve a favorable result in a lawsuit against a national hospice agency that placed money above the suffering of its dying patients.”
- Lynne U. -
Highly recommend!
“Without a doubt, the aggressive pursuit of the truth by Mr. Newman and his associates along with his willingness to answer our questions and support us led to a positive outcome to an otherwise bleak and desperate situation.”
- Mitchell G. -
They were there for me throughout the process
“The representation and care I received at Newman Law Group was very professional and satisfied my needs. They were there for me throughout the process.”
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Dan is someone you can lean on for support and to do the right thing
“He will work extremely hard and recommend what is best for you and your family because you come first in his eyes. Dan is someone that you know will be there for you even after the dust settles.”
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We were honored to have his representation
“His compassion, knowledge, and unending commitment provided our family with a final resolution in this matter. We were honored to have his representation.”
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Our Victories
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$1,500,000 Neglect Case
After a critical two months where our client was not bathed and multiple changes of condition went uncommunicated, unreported, and uncared for, she was ambulanced out to an Emergency Room, where her doctors and family were shocked to find that she had a stage IV sacral decubitus ulcer.
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$1,300,000 Neglect Case
The client in this case is an adult who is developmentally disabled, bedridden, and unable to speak or move independently. The intermediate care facility where she resided neglected their responsibility to ensure her safety, well-being, and necessary medical attention that she required. As a result, the client suffered a Stage IV wound.
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$1,000,000 Nursing Home Abuse Case
Unbeknownst to prospective residents and their families, this defendant RCFE chain was willing to systematically violate laws and its own policies designed to protect vulnerable elders. Willing to admit scores of profitable, high need residents (such as our client), and leave them at the mercy of a few unqualified, untrained and overburdened caregivers.
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$875,000 Abandonment Case
Through exhaustive investigation, we found that our client’s death was not the result of a few isolated mistakes by care-givers. Rather, it was the result of this corporate facility’s policies prioritizing occupancy and revenue, while ignoring staff training, staff supervision, and the quality of care being delivered.
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$775,000 Resident-On-Resident Abuse Case
While eating dinner at a Skilled Nursing Facility, our client was confronted by another resident who punched him, resulting in our client’s tragic death. The other resident had resided at the facility for five months, and over the course of those five months had engaged in numerous altercations with other residents, including two altercations that occurred in the 24-hour period before he assaulted and killed our client.
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$750,000 Lack of Proper Care Case
During our client’s roughly ten-week stay at a skilled nursing facility, he would suffer 8 falls, lose twenty (20) pounds, and develop an unstageable left heel pressure ulcer and a stage II coccyx pressure ulcer due to the facility’s reckless neglect. He was transferred to the hospital, where he was found severely dehydrated, his left heel wound required debridement for eschar and gangrene, and for the first time, a stage II coccyx ulcer was identified.
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$678,000 Financial Abuse Case
Our 84-year-old client was the victim of financial elder abuse related to a number of transactions, including the purchase of a home. The Defendant's real estate agents, lender, and escrow company all failed to protect our client throughout the process of purchasing the home, which was orchestrated by a woman who fraudulently siphoned off our client’s entire life savings.
Why You Need Daniel Newman On Your Side
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Get You Exactly What You Deserve
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Home & Hospital Visits
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Available & Accessible at All Times
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Personalized & Passionate Representation
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Tens of Millions of Dollars Recovered for Our Clients
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Over 30 Years of Legal Experience