
Nursing homes have a moral, spiritual, and legal obligation to care for the seniors trusted to their facility. Unfortunately, that does not help the countless seniors who have been abused emotionally, physically, sexually, and financially throughout the United States. When care facilities neglect or abuse seniors, families have the right to make the voice of their loved ones heard, to hold these organizations accountable. That’s where Peterson & Associates, P.C. can help.
Our firm has spent decades holding companies accountable for the harm they cause people in Kansas City and throughout Missouri. With power, passion, and dedication, we commit our extensive resources to protecting the elderly, helping ensure that victims of abuse receive the justice, closure, and financial support they deserve. We also make seniors safer for the future by showing nursing homes that if they won’t take care of your loved ones, we will make them answer for it in court.
You can learn your options by calling our nursing home abuse lawyer in Kansas City. Share your case with us in a free legal consultation.
In a study conducted in 2000, 44% of 2,000 nursing home residents self-reported incidents of abuse, and 95% reported incidents of neglect. More recent studies indicate that abuse of seniors and the elderly is increasing over time. This horrific epidemic costs the nation billions in healthcare expenses every year, but even worse—abuse increases an elderly person’s odds of dying in the next two years by 300%.
Elder abuse comes in multiple forms:
Abuse is particularly prevalent among dementia patients, with a 50% rate of incidence. The New York Elder Abuse Prevalence Study found that for every case that is reported to an agency, there are 24 more than go unreported. There are millions of abused elders suffering at the hands of their caretakers in different but equally damaging ways. Our firm knows what needs to be done about this heartbreaking trend.
Due to the infirmities and health risks involved with old age, far too many signs of abuse are dismissed as accidents, symptoms of dementia, or simply changing outlook. However, the elderly are like any other group of people—when they are being abused, there are clear red flags. If you want to keep your loved ones safe, pay attention to their physical state.
If you suspect abuse, our Kansas City nursing home abuse lawyers know what to do to keep your cherished family members safe, healthy, and away from abusive or neglectful staff.
Neglect is perhaps the broadest, most vague form of abuse, but it still has clear signs. If you see any of the following signs, consider calling Peterson & Associates, P.C. Our experience with nursing home abuse allows us to identify abuse with confidence and experience, and we will know how to act quickly and find a safe environment for your loved one.
Physical abuse will often be disguised as medical accidents or falls by those responsible. If you begin to see a pattern of the below signs (or even just one), seriously consider removing your loved one from a potentially abusive long-term care facility:
Not all markers are physically obvious. Pay attention to your loved one’s personality and behavior. It may indicate that the staff is psychologically abusive, using swearing, yelling, and insults on the residents. How do they respond to you? To staff?
The more vigilant you are, the more you’ll be able to spot troubling signs such as:
Unfortunately, financial abuse is more common than many people realize. Preying on the vulnerability of residents, abusive nursing home staffers have been known to steal the financial information of those in their care. Most of the time, seniors will not report financial abuse because the abuser is usually someone they have a close relationship with—not reporting is commonly done by victims to prevent embarrassment while protecting the abuser.
Keep an eye for these common signs:
Likely the most tragic of all nursing home abuses. In a 2000 study published by the Journal of Abuse, 70% of all sex abuse incidents occurred in a nursing home. Another study found that the older a victim was, the less likely the offender would be convicted. This particular type of abuse requires sensitivity to your loved one’s trauma, while remaining dedicated to investigating the problem.
We are Kansas City’s premier nursing home abuse attorneys—we help clients receive financial security after suffering unjust and severe injuries. When it comes to nursing home abuse cases, we take an aggressive stance knowing that our work improves the quality of life for our community’s most vulnerable individuals.
Thousands of clients have trusted us with their causes, claims, and livelihoods. Here’s why:
If you’re looking for an attorney, but don’t believe you can afford the best, we exclusively offer contingency fee arrangements. That means our firm absorbs the cost of investigation, finding expert witnesses, and litigation—in other words, you don’t pay a cent. In fact, you only pay if we win in court. Every client deserves the best possible lawyer for their case. Our arrangement levels the playing field, so you can have top-quality representation no matter what.
You have nothing to lose—call us to share your story with us, and
we can give you
professional legal guidance for free. Call (816) 298-8708 today.
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