Placing a loved one in a nursing home is never easy, but it’s often done out of love and trust that they’ll be safe and treated with respect and dignity. When that trust is broken through neglect or abuse, the consequences can be devastating. At The Vance Law Firm Injury Lawyers, we fight for justice when Alabama nursing homes fail to protect their residents.
Neglect in nursing homes can take many forms, from bedsores and malnutrition to emotional abuse or lack of medical care. In many cases, neglect can result in serious health problems, especially if it goes unaddressed for months or even years. If you suspect your loved one is being mistreated, you don’t have to handle it alone.
What Are Common Causes of Neglect in Nursing Homes?
Nursing home neglect often stems from poor management and understaffing. Many facilities prioritize profits over patient care, and that puts residents at serious risk. Common causes include:
- Understaffed facilities unable to meet the needs of every resident
- Poor training or supervision of nurses and aides
- Negligent hiring practices, such as failing to conduct background checks
- High staff turnover, leading to inconsistent care
- Lack of proper safety protocols or emergency procedures
When facilities cut corners, the most vulnerable people suffer. We hold them accountable.
What Are Some Common Signs of Nursing Home Neglect?
If your loved one lives in a nursing home and you suspect they’re being mistreated, you may not witness neglect directly, but the signs can be clear:
- Unexplained bruises or broken bones
- Sudden weight loss or signs of dehydration
- Untreated infections or bedsores
- Sudden mood changes, anxiety, or withdrawal
- Poor hygiene or unsafe living conditions
If you notice anything that feels off while visiting your loved one in their nursing home, trust your instincts. These warning signs are often symptoms of a much deeper issue. The sooner you speak up and get legal representation, the sooner your loved one can begin healing.
What Are Long-Term Complications of Nursing Neglect?
The effects of neglect can be both physical and psychological, especially in elderly residents. Common long-term complications include:
- Chronic infections that worsen over time
- Severe pressure ulcers that may require surgery
- Muscle wasting and loss of mobility from being left bedridden
- Cognitive decline due to isolation or lack of mental stimulation
- Depression, anxiety, or PTSD
- Increased risk of death from untreated medical conditions
Even after being removed from a harmful facility, many victims need extensive rehabilitation, long-term care, and emotional support to begin the process of recovery.
What Compensation Is Available for Neglected Residents and Their Families?
Nursing home neglect isn’t just a violation of trust—it’s a violation of the law. Victims and their families may be eligible for compensation that covers:
- Medical bills related to injuries caused by neglect
- Costs of transferring to a safer facility
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Wrongful death damages, if neglect led to a loved one’s passing
We understand how painful these situations can be. Our job is to fight for the justice your family deserves, and that includes securing maximum compensation.
Alabama Nursing Homes Must Be Held Accountable
Under both state and federal law, nursing home residents have the right to live in a safe and caring environment. When that standard isn’t met, the facility, and in some cases, individual staff members, can be held legally responsible.
Our team works quickly to investigate, gather evidence, and demand answers. Most importantly, we fight to make sure your loved one is protected and that this doesn’t happen to anyone else. We accomplish this by following a few important steps for each case we build:
Investigating the Neglect
We begin by listening to your family’s concerns and collecting as much information as possible about the potential neglect. Then, we take immediate steps to:
- Obtain medical records, care logs, and facility inspection reports
- Interview staff members, former employees, and other residents
- Review surveillance footage, where available
- Consult with medical experts and elder care professionals to evaluate the level of harm
Proving Liability
Neglect cases often involve proving that a facility’s actions—or inaction—caused preventable harm. We use the evidence we’ve gathered to show:
- The facility’s duty to provide safe and proper care
- How that duty was breached (e.g., understaffing, poor supervision, ignored warning signs)
- A direct link between the neglect and your loved one’s injuries or condition
We hold not only the nursing home accountable but, in some cases, individual caregivers or management staff as well.
Handling All Communication and Legal Work
We take over all interactions with the facility, its insurance company, and their attorneys so you don’t have to deal with their denials or deflection. Our team will:
- Prepare and file legal paperwork
- Respond to any attempts to downplay or dispute your claims
- Negotiate aggressively to seek a fair settlement
- Take the case to trial if necessary to get the justice your loved one deserves
Contact Our Alabama Nursing Home Neglect Lawyers Today
We know how hard it is to discover your loved one isn’t receiving the care they deserve—or worse, actively being harmed by negligent nursing home staff. That’s why we handle every case with compassion, urgency, and a commitment to justice.
If you believe your loved one is a victim of nursing home neglect or abuse in Montgomery or anywhere in Alabama, contact The Vance Law Firm Injury Lawyers today. Consultations are free, and you pay nothing unless we win.
