Oregon Elder and Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys
Over 75 Years of Combined Experience Representing Oregon Nursing Home Abuse Victims
We Can Help You with Cases of Abuse and Neglect of Your Most Vulnerable Loved Ones
Our attorneys at Dwyer, Williams, Potter, LLP understand the devastating emotional impact of nursing home abuse and neglect. With the increasing use of nursing home facilities as the average age of our population increases, many nursing home residents are vulnerable to abuse and neglect in Oregon nursing home facilities. Oregon residents entrust their family members and other loved ones to the continuing care of nursing facilities especially when the current physical condition of their loved one requires 24-hour nursing availability. The threat of nursing abuse and neglect is an increasing concern as media reports of horrific cases of abuse and neglect and record setting nursing home abuse verdicts and settlements fill the news.
Many of our most vulnerable loved ones are subject to gross neglect in long-term care facilities and physical, financial or emotional abuse. The elderly are particularly at-risk because some victims have difficulty understanding or communicating to loved ones that they are being victimized. If a resident in a nursing home facility are being physically abused or sexually assaulted by a nursing home staff member, the victim may be afraid that disclosing the abuse will simply lead to retribution by the staff member. At Dwyer, Williams, Potter, LLP, we offer compassionate and experienced representation of nursing home abuse victims and victims of neglect in long-term care facilities throughout the State of Oregon. If someone you love has been victimized by a nursing home, convalescent hospital or other long-term care facility for the elderly, we will answer your questions and offer you experienced counsel built on 75 years of collective litigation experience so call us today at 1-800-285-8678.
Types of Elder and Nursing Home Abuse in Facilities
Improper care or mistreatment of nursing home residents by its caregivers can involve a number of situations that result in either physical, emotional, or financial harm to the adult. The types of abuse or neglect that someone may experience at a nursing home facility include any of the types of mistreatment listed below.
- Abandonment, such as desertion by the person responsible for providing care to a vulnerable adult under the care of the facility
- The failure of the caregiver to provide the expected care and services to the adult, whether intentional or negligent, and may include:
1. Malnourishment or dehydration
2. Untreated medical condition
3. An attitude of indifference to the resident’s physical needs
4. Failure to maintain a clean living environment to the elderly
- Financial abuse and exploitation of the elderly adult’s resources including:
1. Misappropriation of funds
2. Illegal or improper use of the resident’s accounts or funds
- Physical abuse including the intentional use of physical force resulting in
1. Bodily accident or injury which may leave physical signs including cuts, lacerations, bruises, welts, grip marks or burns
2. Infliction of physical pain
3. Overmedication
4. Inappropriate use of chemical and physical restrains
5. Sexual abuse or rape
- Emotional abuse, such as verbal assaults or threats that affect the emotional and mental well-being of the adult
Bill of Rights for Oregon Nursing Home Residents
Because of the potential dangers associated with elder abuse and neglect in nursing homes, Oregon has developed a Bill of Rights that guarantees that residents will be treated with respect and dignity, the assurance that their records will be kept confidential, and that residents will be kept free from mental and physical abuse or unnecessary medication. Residents cannot be transferred or discharged without good cause, advance notice, or a discharge or transfer plan, and residents have a right to a hearing to stop the proposed change. Other rights guaranteed to nursing home residents include without limitations:
- The right to be fully informed of the faculties, policies and procedures that govern the conduct and responsibilities of all residents
- The opportunity to participate in the planning of medical treatment as well as to refuse experimental research
- The assurance that the resident will not be required to perform services that are not for therapeutic reasons
- The right to accept or to refuse medication, treatment or care and to choose their own physician
- Freedom from retaliation for complaints or suggestions
Abuse and neglect in Oregon nursing homes may be insidious in nature meaning the family members do not discover the abuse until permanent accident or injury or even death occurs. The nursing home abuse attorneys at Dwyer William, Potter, LLP have the skill and experienced to carefully investigate the facts including implementation of aggressive discovery methods involving document production and other methods of developing evidence of the substandard treatment and abuse employed in a nursing facility. Dwyer, Williams, Potter, LLP is a statewide personal accident or injury law firm in Oregon with offices conveniently located in Bend, Eugene, Grants Pass, Medford, Portland, and Roseburg to assist clients victimized by nursing home abuse and neglect. Our Oregon nursing home abuse attorneys offer an initial consultation free of charge and handle Oregon nursing home abuse and neglect cases on a contingency fee basis such that you pay if and when we recover compensation for your injuries. We will help you seek the protection and compensation that your loved one deserves!
