What is Elder Abuse? Is There Such a Thing as Nursing Home Litigation? Protect Your Loves Ones by Reporting Nursing Home Negligence According to Face the Facts USA, approximately 1.3 million elderly Americans currently reside in nursing homes. Nursing homes provide individuals with 24-hour access to medical intervention and care in an environment where the hazards present in a home setting, such as falling and fire hazards, are not present. For an individual who can no longer care for himself or herself, a nursing home should provide a safe, stable environment.

• Two in three nursing home residents are female
• As of 2010, 16,639 nursing homes and 52,681 board and care homes operate in the United States
• These facilities provide a total of 2,948,660 beds
• Between 1999 and 2001, one in three nursing homes were cited for violations of federal care standards;

Help End Nursing Home Negligence. . .Report It – Danny Glover

Because our population is aging rapidly and the demand for nursing home bed spaces and resources grows every year, caregivers often become overwhelmed and exhausted, leading to cases of nursing home neglect. Neglect is a form of abuse and along with other types of abuse, like financial exploitation and physical abuse, it puts nursing home residents in danger of illness and injury. If your loved one currently resides in a nursing home in Eastern North Carolina, you need to be his or her advocate. If you feel he or she is being neglected by caretakers there, it is up to you to file a nursing home neglect report and work with an experienced nursing home abuse attorney to seek justice for your loved one. By knowing how to recognize and report neglect and other forms of abuse, you can protect your loved one from harm.

MORE INFO ABOUT: Nursing Home Negligence

How to Report Elder Abuse

If you have reason to believe that your loved one is being neglected or abused in his or her nursing home, you should report your suspicion to the Adult Protective Services of the state where the nursing home is located, as suggested by the Administration on Aging. Adult Protective Services exists to prevent the abuse and exploitation of adults who can not protect themselves.

If your loved one is in immediate danger, call 911 to report the situation to local law enforcement. If he or she is not in immediate danger, Adult Protective Services will review your report and if necessary, assign a caseworker to investigate the case. If it finds that abuse has occurred, the agency will work with local agencies to provide the aid that your loved one needs. As the case progresses, keep your attorney updated about Adult Protective Services’ findings and discuss all possibilities for your case. Your attorney will advise you about your legal options and your relative’s rights as a victim.

Reporting Nursing Home Abuse

If you have a loved one currently residing in a nursing home or assisted living facility, it is important that you understand the scope of the nursing home abuse problem in the United States. A recent report by the National Center on Elder Abuse showed the following statistics:

• In a 2000 study of American nursing homes, 44 percent of residents said they had been abused and 95 percent reported they had been neglected or witnessed another resident suffer from neglect;
• More than half of nursing home staff members surveyed admitted to mistreating residents, with the majority of these mistreatment cases involving neglect; and
• In a survey of certified nursing assistants (CNAs), 17 percent admitted to pushing, grabbing, or shoving residents. 51 percent admitted to yelling at residents and 23 percent reported they had sworn at or insulted residents.

Nursing home abuse comes in many forms. The report discussed six types of abuse that can occur in a nursing home:

• Physical abuse;
• Sexual abuse;
• Financial exploitation;
• Gross neglect;
• Psychological abuse;
• Resident to resident abuse.

In both nursing homes and board and care facilities, physical abuse was the most widely-reported type, comprising 29 percent and 25 percent of reports respectively. In nursing homes, abuse by other residents was the second most prevalent type of abuse reported. In board and care facilities, psychological abuse held this position. Sexual abuse and financial exploitation were tied for the least common complaints in nursing homes. In board and care facilities, sexual abuse was the least common type of abuse reported.

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Nursing Home Neglect

According to the report by Face the Facts USA, 70 percent of nursing home residents rely on Medicaid to cover the cost of their care. Medicaid/Medicare also certifies nursing homes, which subjects these facilities to regular inspections by Medicaid/Medicare.

According to the North Carolina Division of Health Service Regulation (NC DHSR) Nursing Home Licensure and Certification Section, not all nursing homes in the state are certified by Medicaid/Medicare. Medicaid/Medicare only has the authority to impose civil penalties on the homes that it certifies when it finds violations during these inspections.

Although nursing homes are not required to be certified by Medicaid/Medicare, they are required to be licensed by the North Carolina Division of Health Service Regulation (NC DHSR) Nursing Home Licensure and Certification Section.

You can find out whether a facility is certified by Medicaid/Medicare by searching on the NC DHSR’s website. On this website, you can find whether a particular facility offers certain resources, how inspections are posted, whether the facility has faced penalties in the past, its star rating, and any deficiencies present with the facility. By learning all you can about the facilities available for your loved one, you can make an informed decision about his or her long-term care.

Work with Elder Abuse Attorneys in Elizabeth City OBX and North Eastern North Carolina

If your loved one has suffered from neglect or any other type of abuse in his or her nursing home, work with an experienced elder abuse attorney to file a claim and seek justice for your relative. At Glover Law Firm, we take every report of alleged nursing home abuse seriously and dedicate ourselves to getting our clients the compensation they need for their losses. Do not wait to begin working with us – if your loved one is a victim of abuse or neglect, he or she deserves justice. Contact us today.

• Check on Everyone Involved
• Call the Police
• Exchange Information
• Take Pictures

On scene it is important to protect your safety and, if possible, others involved in a wreck – Danny Glover

The holiday season is here. With it comes hours of interstate travel to see loved ones, celebrations with special food and drinks, and time spent shopping for the perfect gifts for everybody in your life.

Because of the increased number of holiday travelers on the roadways, the number of traffic accidents tends to be higher during the holiday season than during other times of the year. A 2013 study published by the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles confirms this, showing multiple accidents leading to injuries and fatalities over the holidays, including Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve.

Being involved in a serious car accident can disrupt your life. You might sustain damage to your vehicle or a physical injury that limits your ability to work. In many cases, motorists suffer from both. Although it can be easy to panic when you are involved in a car accident, it is critical that you remain calm and think clearly. The moments immediately following a car accident are critical and can determine whether a victim makes a full recovery.

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Focus on your own health and safety. Once you have received adequate medical care for your injury, consider having an experienced car accident attorney review the accident and explain your legal options to recover compensation for your expenses, such as medical bills and physical therapy, lost wages due to time spent out of work, and other related expenses.

If you are involved in a car accident this holiday season or at any time, take the following steps to ensure that you remain safe and have the evidence you will need if you choose to file a personal injury claim.

Check on Other Parties Involved in the Collision

Check on all other drivers, passengers, and pedestrians who were involved in the accident. If anybody is hurt, call for emergency medical services right away.

Call the Police

Regardless of whether anybody is hurt, the next step is to call local law enforcement to have a police officer come to the scene. He or she will file an official police report, which you will need to use as evidence to support your personal injury claim if you choose to file one. Take down the officer’s contact information and badge number to reach him or her if you need to at any point in the claims process.

Take Photos of the Damage

While waiting for police to arrive, use your cell phone to take photographs to convey the accident scene and the damage that resulted from the collision. Take photos of the cars, of your accident, and of the scene surrounding the accident to show how it happened and your injuries.

• Help Others in Need First
• Be Careful
• Cell Phone Pictures are OK
• Take LOTS of Pictures
• Take Pictures from Different Angles and Distances

Exchange Contact Information with Other Motorists

Exchange contact information and insurance policy information with all other parties involved in the accident. You will need to contact their insurance provider and they might need to contact yours in the months following the accident.

Be sure to take down contact information for any witnesses to the accident as well. When you file a personal injury claim, a witness’ testimony can be an important piece of evidence to support your claim. This is one of the most important steps to take after a car accident.

Pull Off the Road

Move your vehicle off the road when it is safe to do so. Pulling off the road takes you out of the flow of traffic, allowing other drivers to reach their destinations. It also protects your car from another collision. If it is not safe to move your car, leave it where it stands until a wrecker arrives to remove it.

Seek Medical Attention

If you don’t need emergency medical care, seek a medical examination as soon as possible following your accident. Even if you do not feel like you are injured or your injury seems to be minor, it is important that you have a doctor evaluate you. Many injuries appear minor at first, then become more serious if they are left untreated. Others, like traumatic brain injuries, do not have visible symptoms and can easily be overlooked. Your doctor will give you a diagnosis and the correct treatment for your injury. The record of your doctor visit and subsequent treatment will be an important piece of evidence for your personal injury claim.

Contact an Experienced Car Accident Attorney

Once you have received medical treatment for your injury, take advantage of a free consultation with a personal injury attorney to understand your legal options. Do not wait to take this step. Under North Carolina law, the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim is three years from the date of your accident. This means that after your accident, you have three years to file a personal injury claim and seek compensation for your damages. Once the time has passed, you are no longer eligible for compensation through a personal injury claim.

Your attorney will use the evidence you have collected to support your claim. This includes the information you gathered at the scene of the accident, the official police report, photos, and your medical records and documentation of your treatment.

Personal Injury Attorneys in Eastern North Carolina

If you have been involved in a car accident in the Outer Banks or elsewhere in eastern North Carolina, you need to work with an experienced personal injury attorney to determine your eligibility to pursue a personal injury claim. Contact our personal injury attorneys at Glover Law Firm today to schedule a legal consultation with us. During your consultation, we will go over the details of your case and advise you of your legal options. If you decide to pursue a personal injury claim, we are here to represent your interests and advocate for you as you seek the money you deserve for your losses.