Seeking Justice for Abuse in a Portsmouth Nursing Home? Our Attorneys Can Help
Looking for the right Portsmouth, Virginia nursing home negligence law firm? Speak with Senior Justice Law Firm. Our Virginia offices are based in nearby Norfolk, and we routinely represent elder abuse victims in and around Portsmouth.
Nursing home abuse and neglect is our law firm focus, so we are uniquely qualified to handle negligence claims in Portsmouth long term care facilities.
Call or Live Chat with Senior Justice Law Firm today for a completely free Southeastern Virginia nursing home abuse attorney case consultation.
Senior Justice Law Firm
2601 Granby Street
Norfolk, VA 23517
(757) 530-4255
Your Hampton Roads Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers
Those who are considering their retirement often spend quite a lot of time thinking about the ideal place to settle down. For many, Virginia holds a lot of appeal as a place with fair weather, gorgeous beaches, and easy access to some of the most exciting hotspots in the country, like Washington, D.C. In an effort to achieve the perfect balance of rural yet modern, older folks have been flocking to Portsmouth to retire—and that means that the community is full of nursing homes to choose from.
It may seem as though an area so dense with nursing homes would have top-notch elder care figured out. Unfortunately, this is not the case, and Portsmouth struggles more than many of its neighbors to provide an adequate quality of life to nursing home residents. This can lead to injuries, suffering, and even death in some locations.
If you suspect that your family member was abused or neglected in a Portsmouth nursing home, reach out to Senior Justice Law Firm at (757) 530-4255.
We are Portsmouth nursing home abuse attorneys who work solely on nursing home abuse cases. We want to help you right a wrong after a loved one was harmed due to a nurse’s negligence.
Nursing Home Care Evaluation in Portsmouth, VA
Nursing Homes Well Below Average in Portsmouth
Portsmouth is full of relaxed and engaging activities for folks getting on in years who would like to take some daily excursions in the area. If ships are your cup of tea, the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum, building ground of the Texas—the first battleship from the US—and the world’s first aircraft carrier, called the Langley. If nature interests you more, you have plenty of options in the wildlife preserves at Hoffler Creek and Paradise Creek. And for those who would rather stay inside, the area’s many nursing homes give you options.
In fact, there are 19 nursing homes within the 10 miles around Portsmouth’s city center in Virginia. Unfortunately, none of them manage even an Average rating on their state mandated inspections, and the majority score at the bare minimum 1 out of 5 on critical areas of care like staffing and overall quality of life. It is important to remain realistic about the reality of nursing home abuse so that you can take action against a facility if necessary.
Abuse, Neglect, Malpractice and Negligence in Portsmouth Nursing Facilities
Spotting an Abusive Nursing Home
Nursing homes across America struggle to maintain adequate staffing, and those in Portsmouth are no exception. The reason that this is such a common issue is because most nursing homes are operated by for-profit companies who are primarily concerned with providing (and filling) as many beds as possible for maximum income. This means that while staff should typically care for no more than three or four residents, most nursing homes see staff responsible for upwards of 30 people.
This is the root of nursing home neglect. It is typically not intentional—though that is a possibility—but rather a result of overworked staff who simply do not have enough minutes in the day to provide sufficient attention to each resident. Regardless of whether abuse and neglect occurred as a result of negligence or an intention to cause harm, the nursing home can (and should) still be held responsible.
Signs of Patient Neglect
If you have noticed that your loved one is not behaving the same or that they have experienced injuries or new illnesses, they may be the victim of neglect. While the signs are not always simple to spot, some types of injuries and evidence are tell-tale indicators:
Bedsores– One of the clearest signs of abuse or neglect in a nursing home is the presence of bedsores. When someone lies in the same position for an extended period of time without moving, the pressure placed on thin areas of skin surrounding the shoulders, elbows, tailbone, and other locations can cause lesions. These marks on the skin appear like ulcers and are never caused by any medical condition other than neglect. Simply assisting a resident in shifting their weight every few hours is enough to stop bedsores from happening.
Once formed, bed sores can grow steadily until they reach the bone, which is typically severely painful. In addition, the open wound leaves the resident open to potentially fatal infections, MRSA, and even sepsis.
Falls– When considering an aging population, falls remain one of the most common forms of injury. While it is true that many falls are genuine accidents and nothing could have been done to avert the situation, just as many are the result of nursing home negligence. When a nursing home accepts new patients, they are responsible for conducting fall assessment, determining how likely a resident is to fall. Similarly, they must also do their due diligence to remove trip hazards and other risks, including bunched up carpet, tall door jambs, beds that can easily be rolled out of, and slippery surfaces, among others.
One of the most common signs of falls at a nursing home are unexplained injuries that you may notice when you come to visit. Residents tend to fall when they are allowed to wander without supervision or when fall risks have not been mitigated, and these can be cause for a lawsuit. Broken bones and brain bleeds (called subdural hematomas) are some of the many injuries that may cripple or even end the life of your family member as a result of the nursing home’s negligence.
Malnutrition/dehydration– While both choking is likely the first things that spring to mind when you think of the dangers around eating and drinking, not receiving the proper nutrients is equally common in elder care facilities. This is largely due to understaffing, which results in staff who are not able to spend time with residents during mealtimes. Because many elderly folks have mobility issues, they may need assistance eating or drinking; they may also have specific dietary needs that require special meals.
When staff are overworked, they are not spending the time to ensure that residents are physically able to feed themselves or drink as much as they need, and they cannot spare time to make special meals. This can lead to malnutrition and dehydration, both of which are potentially fatal if left unchecked.
Physical and sexual abuse– When you help a loved one to move into a nursing home, you expect that they are receiving the attention and care that they deserve in a respectful and gentle manner. Unfortunately, both physical and sexual abuse happen more often than you might imagine at nursing homes, even despite background checks for staff.
Staff are not the only ones displaying this behavior, though. Other residents can also cause issues, and it is the nursing home’s responsibility to avert these situations before they arise. Neighboring residents who struggle with cognitive ability, memory, or aggression management may take their feelings out on other residents, either physically or sexually.
Portsmouth nursing homes are not immune from scrutiny, and you may suspect that your loved one was mistreated at one of these facilities. If you believe this to be true—or even if you are only a little suspicious—it is best to reach out to a skilled nursing home abuse lawyer. It may seem fruitless to pursue monetary damages from an elder care location; after all, money can never undo the suffering that your loved one endured at their facility.
NURSING HOMES IN PORTSMOUTH:
There are 19 nursing homes in Portsmouth and the surrounding 10 mile area, and none of them have earned Average or above in their inspection ratings. A poor review does not necessarily guarantee that your loved one is being abused, but it is important to be aware that the ratings for Portsmouth homes lag well behind Virginia’s targets for elder care. Some facilities with the lowest scores include (but are not limited to):
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Portsmouth Nursing Home News
Virginia has been struggling statewide with nursing home quality, and facilities across multiple metro areas have incurred more than 5 million dollars in fines since 2014, reports WTKR. When questioned about why such abusive behavior occurs, staff and nurses who remain dedicated to providing top-notch patient care were quick to respond. “Long-term care professionals who are dedicated to their jobs and compassionate to their patients say they struggle to keep going in an industry that often does not hire enough staff for its facilities and underpays its staff,” reports the local news source.
At least one hundreds homes in the state have seen enforcement actions brought against them for failing to “1) hire only people with no legal history of abusing, neglecting or mistreating residents, or 2) report and investigate any acts or reports of abuse, neglect or mistreatment of residents.” This trend is evident in Portsmouth, where no nursing homes within a 10 mile radius of the city center were able to achieve even a middling score on their performance reviews.
During the COVID crisis of 2020 and 2021, Portsmouth nursing homes had higher than average infection outbreaks.
Portsmouth Nursing Home Abuse Lawsuit
Free Consultation for Portsmouth Nursing Home Abuse Cases
When the time comes to file a lawsuit against an abusive nursing home, you might be feeling overwhelmed or unsure of how to proceed. This is where Senior Justice Law Firm can help. We would be happy to assist you in creating a plan of action for holding an abusive nursing home accountable and seeking the justice and compensation that you deserve.
We work on nursing home abuse cases—and only these types of cases. In this way, we ensure that we stay on top of all recent developments and hone our skills as experts in this particular area of the law. We strongly stand behind our belief that these negligent nursing homes should face justice, and we would be happy to speak to you free of charge about the situation that your loved one or family member endured.
Get in touch by using our chat feature or submitting your information below. You can also contact us via phone at (757) 530-4255.
