Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
Michael J. Romano

Nursing Home Abuse Injuries in North Central West Virginia

The Law Office of Michael J. Romano represents clients and family members on behalf of individuals who have suffered injuries or death while residing at a nursing home or have been victimized by nursing home caretakers themselves. Unfortunately, nursing home abuse is common. If your loved one has experienced nursing home abuse or neglect in West Virginia, contact our law office right away.

Call 304-624-1100 to schedule your free consultation or contact us online.

Neglect, Physical, and Sexual Abuse in Nursing Homes

The main categories of nursing home abuse include the following:

• Neglect
• Physical Abuse
• Sexual Abuse

Nursing Home Staff Responsible for Complete Protection of Residents

Nursing home employees are responsible for the complete care and protection of dependent individuals under their supervision. When a nursing home resident suffers harm that causes serious injury or death, fault is clearly placed on the nursing home staff and administration charged with their care.

Nursing home staffs are completely responsible for protecting the health and well-being of the residents placed under their care, including the responsibility to protect residents from other residents.

Bedsores, Malnutrition, Neglect, Physical, and Sexual Abuse

Nursing home abuse can include any type of harm that nursing home staff allow to occur to residents that causes injury. Some of the most common types of abuse include:

• Accidents (Otherwise Preventable)
• Bedsores
• Dehydration
• Malnutrition
• Inadequate Sanitation
• Negligence of Hygiene
• Substandard Medical Care
• Physical Abuse by Staff or Other Residents
• Sexual Abuse by Staff of Other Residents
• Neglect

The following troubling statistics give an idea of how prevalent nursing home abuse is:

• Officials site one-in-three nursing homes have been cited for violations
• 95% of 2,000 nursing home residents selected for interviews indicated that they had been abused
• Half of nursing home staff members have actually admitted to abusing residents

Source: National Center on Elder Abuse

Lawyer Upholding the Rights of Nursing Home Residents

West Virginia state law and regulations mandate that all residents of nursing homes have rights. Each resident has the right to:

• Be fully informed about medical conditions, medications, and all other medical-related issues
• Be treated with respect, dignity, and individuality
• Have input into scheduling
• Have the environment be as “home-like” as possible
• Keep his/her personal belongings and property
• Know the services and fees of the nursing home
• Manage his/her own finances or select someone else of his/her own choosing to manage his finances
• Privacy

Recognize the Signs of Elder Abuse

Please educate yourself about how to recognize the signs of elder abuse if you have a loved one who is placed in a nursing home. Some of the most common signs of nursing home abuse are listed at the following site, provided courtesy of the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Services:

Warning Signs of Adult Maltreatment

If you are aware of or suspect nursing home abuse, neglect, elder abuse, or exploitation, you should report all of the details to the 24-Hour Statewide West Virginia Elder Abuse Hotline at 1-800-352-6513 and contact the Law Office of Michael J. Romano at 304-624-1100 for a free consultation as soon as possible.