Seattle Nursing Home Abuse Attorney

Nursing home abuse is a serious concern for families with elderly individuals in need of care across the state of Washington. When placing someone with limited ability into the care of a caretaker, the family places the wellbeing of the elder into their hands. If you find out your loved one has been facing abuse or neglect, it’s time to call out Seattle nursing home abuse attorney to get you started on pursing legal recourse and discussing your options. 

Why Choose Elk & Elk?

The Seattle personal injury attorneys at Elk & Elk will take an empathetic approach to your case to ensure that it is dealt with in a swift, respective manner.

There are a number of reasons why we are a top choice for these types of cases:

• No fees unless we win: Our firm operates on a policy of contingency fee services. You will not pay us until we have successfully won compensation for your family.
• Open communication: We stand by our clients all the way through their cases. Our Seattle elder abuse lawyers ensure open and transparent communication to give you the peace of mind you deserve when pursuing legal action for your loved ones.
• Expertise in all areas: We have experience with many complex areas of law and numerous types of claims, meaning that you can trust our work in even the most complicated situations.

What Is Nursing Home Abuse?

Nursing home abuse happens when staff members, caregivers, or other residents mistreat vulnerable individuals, leading to physical harm, emotional distress, or financial exploitation. If your loved one has suffered unexplained injuries, neglect, or sudden behavioral changes, they may be a victim of abuse. Recognizing the different forms of mistreatment can help you take action to protect your family member’s safety.

Physical Abuse

Physical abuse involves intentional harm or rough handling, leading to bruises, fractures, or unexplained injuries. This includes hitting, pushing, restraining residents improperly, or withholding necessary medical care. If your loved one has cuts, burns, or repeated falls, the nursing home staff may be responsible for their injuries.

Emotional and Psychological Abuse

Verbal threats, humiliation, intimidation, or isolation can cause severe emotional distress in nursing home residents. Caregivers who mock, yell at, or ignore patients can leave them feeling fearful, withdrawn, or anxious. If your loved one appears scared of certain staff members, stops engaging in conversations, or has sudden mood swings, emotional abuse could be the cause.

Neglect and Lack of Proper Care

Neglect occurs when caregivers fail to meet a resident’s basic needs, leading to malnutrition, dehydration, bedsores, or poor hygiene. If a nursing home is understaffed or improperly trained, residents may not receive timely medical care, assistance with daily activities, or necessary medications. Signs of neglect include weight loss, untreated infections, or dirty living conditions.

Financial Exploitation

Some caregivers or facility administrators steal money, valuables, or personal information from elderly residents. Financial abuse may involve unauthorized withdrawals, changes in wills or power of attorney, or unusual credit card activity. If your loved one suddenly has missing funds, unpaid bills, or confusion about their finances, someone may be taking advantage of them.

Examples and Warning Signs of Nursing Home Abuse

Nursing home abuse can take many forms, often with subtle signs that are easy to overlook. Knowing the warning signs can help you recognize potential mistreatment and act quickly to protect your loved ones. Some examples and warning signs include:

• Reoccurring bedsores
• Excessive or unexplainable bruising or injuries
• Broken or fractured bones
• Signs of restraint
• Dehydration or malnourishment
• Poor hygiene
• Wrong doses or types of medicines
• Unchanged bedding that is dirty or soiled
• Agitation, fear, or emotional withdrawal
• Frequent crying or other physical displays of emotional distress
• Personality changes or mood swings
• Complaints or verbal cues of poor treatment
• Unsafe living conditions such as slippery floors or exposed wiring

By looking out for some of these warning signs, you or a family member may be able to stop elder abuse in a nursing home before it goes too far.

How to Report Nursing Home Abuse

If you suspect nursing home abuse, it is critical to report it immediately. Washington state provides resources to protect vulnerable adults and investigate suspected neglect or mistreatment. Reporting abuse can prevent further harm and hold negligent caregivers accountable.

To report concerns, contact Washington State’s Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). You can file a complaint online or by calling their hotline, which handles reports of abuse, neglect, or exploitation. After filing a report, state investigators will assess the situation, interview staff, and residents, and review facility records. If evidence of abuse is found, corrective actions may be taken, including staff termination, facility fines, or criminal charges.

What is the Process for Filing a Nursing Home Abuse Lawsuit?

If your loved one suffered injuries, financial loss, or emotional trauma due to nursing home abuse, filing a lawsuit may help you recover damages and prevent future harm. Legal action can hold the nursing home, caregivers, or facility administrators accountable for their negligence.

The lawsuit process begins with gathering evidence, including medical records, photographs of injuries, witness statements, and financial documents if financial exploitation occurred. Your legal team will file a formal complaint against the responsible parties and negotiate for a settlement or take the case to trial if necessary.

Washington law sets strict deadlines for filing nursing home abuse claims. According to Washington state’s statute of limitations under RCW 4.16.350, victims typically have three years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit. If you miss this deadline, you may lose your right to pursue legal action, making it essential to act quickly to protect your loved one’s rights.

Do I Need to Hire a Seattle Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer?

Washington is rampant with nursing home abuse cases that are difficult to handle. Here are some of the most important reasons that someone should avoid taking on a case of nursing home abuse alone and seek legal representation through an attorney:

• Guidance through complex cases: A complex system of different parties such as the victim and their family, the abusive caregiver, the facility at which the caregiver works, and other entities can be involved in a case like this one. This calls for a well-educated and experienced lawyer who knows how to navigate a complex legal environment such as this one.
• Protection from unfair contracts: Contracts signed upon the acceptance of care for the elder in Washington state can oftentimes include shady language. They can be used as leverage against you in the form of protection for the caregiver and their employer.
• Assistance with documentation: An nursing home abuse attorney can help you collect and file all the documentation that you will need as you pursue your claims.
• Dedicated representation at trial: Should your suit move to trial, your Seattle nursing home abuse lawyer will be able to fight to find justice for the abuse experienced by your loved one.

How Prevalent Is Nursing Home Abuse in Washington? 

There is one word that can be used to describe the state of nursing home abuse in Washington state: shocking. Below are some of the statistics surrounding the sub-par performance of nursing homes in the state of Washington:

• Out of all 50 states and the District of Columbia, Washington state ranks number one for most deficiencies per facility – meaning there have been more complaints about facilities in the state than anywhere else in the country.
• The average number of deficiencies per facility nationwide is somewhere between seven to eight whereas Washington state is over ten points higher.
• In the ranking of substandard-care deficiencies per facility, the Evergreen State ranks as the sixth-worst state in the country.
• The state also ranks among the top three worst states for food and dietary issues, heavily impacting the livelihood of residents every day.
• Out of facility fines and payment denials, Washington state is again amongst the worst with over $950,000 in penalties annually.

Precautionary Steps To Take When Deciding Which Nursing Home to Choose

Spotting the warning signs of nursing home abuse can be nearly impossible. While an individual cannot predict the future, there are some precautionary steps one can take to avoid a case of nursing home abuse in the Seattle area:

1. Research local facilities: Do extensive research into the general state of nursing homes in your area, including the target community, Seattle, and Washington state.
2. Review feedback from others: After identifying the possible nursing homes you are interested in, read through reviews that other people have left for those specific facilities.
3. Request a tour: Request a walk-through and tour of the buildings to get a better idea of how the nursing home is operated and managed. Keep in mind that tours do not always show the whole picture.
4. Connect with the community: Connect with other members of the community who have experience with your target care facilities and initiate a conversation to get better insight into the environments of the nursing homes.

Allow Our Seattle Nursing Home Abuse Attorney Be There for You and Your Loved Ones

Our firm has extensive experience throughout Seattle working with people whose elderly family members have been the victims of care facility abuse. To fight back against the harsh reality of negligent retirement rooms, Elk & Elk employs educated and highly experienced Seattle nursing home abuse attorneys.

By reaching out to one of our representatives, you will take your family’s first steps onto the road of recovery. If you would like to receive a free consultation, please call 1-844-ELK-WEST (1-844-355-9378) or fill out our online form.