West Seattle Nursing Home Neglect and Elder Abuse Attorney

Nursing home abuse is defined as the neglect, mistreatment, or harming of an elderly resident in a medical care facility. Elder abuse can occur in a variety of forms, including physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, and financial exploitation. A 2001 congressional report stated that one of every three nursing homes was cited for an abuse violation within a two-year period. Furthermore, nearly 10 percent of these violations were serious enough to cause actual harm to the residents or to place the residents in immediate jeopardy of serious personal injury or wrongful death. At our firm, our knowledgeable West Seattle nursing home neglect and elder abuse attorney, Angela L. DeWig, is experienced in litigating these claims and can help you hold responsible parties liable for their actions.

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Signs of Nursing Home Abuse

According to the National Center on Elder Abuse, for every case of nursing home abuse, neglect, or exploitation reported to the authorities, five incidents go unreported. Because elder abuse is generally committed by trusted authority figures, many victims are often afraid, unwilling, or unable to report it. For this reason, it is necessary for family members to be familiar with the warning signs of nursing home abuse and understand what constitutes neglect.

Signs of nursing home abuse include:

  • Injuries resulting from restraint
  • Injuries resulting from a lack of necessary restraint
  • Broken bones
  • Unexplained falls
  • Excessive and/or rapid weight loss
  • Open wounds, cuts, bruises, or welts
  • Bed sores and ulcers
  • Unexplained death

Nursing home neglect includes:

  • Failure to provide food, clothing, and shelter
  • Failure to provide necessary medical care
  • Failure to prevent falls
  • Failure to prevent malnutrition and dehydration
  • Failure to assist in personal hygiene

In addition to physical and emotional abuse, it is also common for residents of negligent nursing homes to suffer financial abuse. If you see or suspect any financial exploitation of a loved one in a nursing home facility, contact local authorities immediately; then seek the representation of our West Seattle nursing home neglect and elder abuse attorney. For more information about nursing home abuse, contact a King County, Washington personal injury lawyer and schedule a consultation.

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Reporting Elder Abuse

If you suspect that a loved one has been the victim of nursing home neglect, or if you have suffered because of nursing elder abuse, it is important to immediately document and report the problem. Include the following information in your report:

  • The victim's personal information (name, age, address, etc.)
  • The name of the facility and the people responsible for the victim's care
  • The identity of the person believed to have abused or neglected the victim
  • The nature and extent of harm
  • The place the incident happened
  • The time and date of the incident

A copy of your nursing home abuse report should be submitted to:

This report should be dated and include a description of any previous incidents. A West Seattle nursing home neglect and elder abuse attorney can help you make this report and file a claim on your behalf. At the Law Offices of Angela L. DeWig, victims can have their case carefully examined. For more information about nursing home abuse, contact our King County personal injury firm today to schedule a consultation.

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Contact Our West Seattle Nursing Home Neglect and Elder Abuse Attorney

Instances or nursing home neglect and elder abuse are far too common in the United States. By reporting elder abuse and taking legal action against transgressors, our West Seattle nursing home neglect and elder abuse attorney can help you hold the responsible party or parties liable for their actions. If you have even the slightest suspicion that someone you love has been subjected to nursing home abuse, contact the Law Offices of Angela L. DeWig.

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Contact West Seattle nursing home neglect and elder abuse attorney Angela L. DeWig to schedule a consultation and case evaluation.

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The Law Offices of
Angela L. DeWig, PLLC
2255 Harbor Avenue S.W., Suite104
Seattle, Washington 98126

Tel: 206-937-6400
Toll Free: 1-866-Law DeWig
Fax: 206-937-6696