Guidance And Protection In Assisted Living Or Group Home Abuse Cases

Having a loved one in an assisted living facility or a group home can be a source of comfort for families, as their loved one can get the care and support that they need. However, there are situations in which the resident is in danger and may be experiencing abuse in their residence. If you are worried about a loved one and suspect abuse, it is time to talk to an attorney.

Based in Albuquerque, our legal team at Harvey & Foote Law Firm, LLC, is committed to helping our clients seek protection and justice for loved ones who have suffered abuse in group homes and assisted living facilities. We approach our clients with compassion while zealously working to hold the negligent parties accountable for the abuse that was committed. Our lawyers have vast experience handling assisted living, group home and nursing home abuse and injury cases and will help you understand your rights and options.

What Are Assisted Living Facilities And Group Homes?

While nursing homes are facilities designed to provide 24-hour life and medical support to residents, assisted living facilities and group homes are more geared toward residents who have some level of independence, with some differences:

• Assisted living: When an individual is a resident in an assisted living facility, they may be one of many residents (sometimes up to 80 or more) in the facility. These are often more like individual apartments in which a resident can live with some level of assistance with daily activities and health issues. Staff at an assisted living facility is typically a mix of medical personnel and nonmedical caregivers.
• Group homes: The number of residents in a group home is much smaller than in an assisted living facility. Group homes usually consist of four to 10 residents, depending on the facility, who either have their own rooms or share a room in a house. There is a house manager or other trained main caregiver at the home 24 hours a day to provide support to the residents who have varying degrees of disability and independence.

Symptoms And Causes Of Abuse

There are many different things to look out for when abuse is suspected. Symptoms often include:

• Pressure sores
• Broken bones and other injuries from falls
• Head injuries
• Malnutrition
• Dehydration
• Medication errors
• Lack of personal hygiene
• Changes in personality
• Damaged clothing or personal items

The causes can be more in-depth and are not only limited to immediate physical abuse by caregivers. Other causes include:

• Abuse by other residents
• Lack of supervision
• Lack of regulations at the state or federal level
• Improperly trained staff
• Overlooked problems in smaller homes or facilities

Talk To Us About Your Concerns

Our attorneys are here to listen to you and take action to protect your loved ones. For more information on how we handle assisted living and group home abuse cases, call our office today at 505-633-8579 or contact us online. We offer a free initial consultation.