Seattle Nursing Home Abuse Attorney

Nursing home abuse is a serious concern for families with elderly individuals in need of care across the state of Washington. When placing someone with limited ability into the care of a caretaker, the family places the wellbeing of the elder into their hands.

Unfortunately, the state of Washington and the city of Seattle are hotspots for elderly abuse in nursing homes. These facilities are expensive and can lead to enormous amounts of financial stress for the families involved – not to mention psychological distress experienced by the elder. The Seattle personal injury lawyers at Elk & Elk is here to provide extensive legal support for you and your family when going through a case like this one. That is why we offer Seattle nursing home abuse attorneys who are dedicated to finding justice for your family.

Why Choose Elk & Elk?

Elk & Elk plays a special role for many Seattle residents seeking compensation and help following a case of nursing home abuse. We will take an empathetic approach to your case to ensure that it is dealt with in a swift, respective manner.

There are a number of reasons why we are a top choice for these types of cases:

Our firm operates on a policy of contingency fee services. You will not pay us until we have successfully won compensation for your family.
We stand by our clients all the way through their cases. Our Seattle elder abuse lawyers ensure open and transparent communication to give you the peace of mind you deserve when pursuing legal action for your loved ones.
We have experience with many complex areas of law and numerous types of claims, meaning that you can trust our work in even the most complicated situations.

You Need a Nursing Home Abuse Attorney in Washington

Washington is rampant with nursing home abuse cases that are difficult to handle. Here are some of the most important reasons that someone should avoid taking on a case of nursing home abuse alone and seek legal representation through an attorney:

A complex system of different parties such as the victim and their family, the abusive caregiver, the facility at which the caregiver works, and other entities can be involved in a case like this one. This calls for a well-educated and experienced lawyer who knows how to navigate a complex legal environment such as this one.
Contracts signed upon the acceptance of care for the elder in Washington state can oftentimes include shady language. They can be used as leverage against you in the form of protection for the caregiver and their employer.
An attorney can help you collect and file all the documentation that you will need as you pursue your claims.
Should your suit move to trial, your nursing home abuse lawyer will be able to fight to find justice for the abuse experienced by your loved one.

How to Avoid and Identify a Case of Elder Abuse

Spotting the warning signs of elder abuse can be nearly impossible. While an individual cannot predict the future, there are some precautionary steps one can take to avoid a case of nursing home abuse in the Seattle area:

Do extensive research into the general state of nursing homes in your area, including the target community, Seattle, and Washington state.
After identifying the possible nursing homes you are interested in, read through reviews that other people have left for those specific facilities.
Request a walk-through and tour of the buildings to get a better idea of how the nursing home is operated and managed. Keep in mind that tours do not always show the whole picture.
Connect with other members of the community who have experience with your target care facilities and initiate a conversation to get better insight into the environments of the nursing homes.

While you may follow all of these tips and more, there is only so much you can do to act preemptively in regards to the type of care your elderly loved one will receive. For example, a negligent nurse may be hired after you have already signed the papers or management decides to overwork some of their staff.

Below are a few ways you can try to spot the warning signs of abuse of elderly individuals in care facilities:

Reoccurring bedsores
Excessive or unexplainable bruising or injuries
Broken or fractured bones
Signs of restraint
Dehydration or malnourishment
Poor hygiene
Wrong doses or types of medicines
Unchanged bedding that is dirty or soiled
Agitation, fear, or emotional withdrawal
Frequent crying or other physical displays of emotional distress
Personality changes or mood swings
Complaints or verbal cues of poor treatment
Unsafe living conditions such as slippery floors or exposed wiring

By looking out for some of these warning signs, you or a family member may be able to stop elder abuse in a nursing home before it goes too far.

How Prevalent Is Nursing Home Abuse?

There is one word that can be used to describe the state of nursing home abuse in Washington state: shocking. Below are some of the statistics surrounding the sub-par performance of nursing homes in the state of Washington:

Out of all 50 states and the District of Columbia, Washington state ranks number one for most deficiencies per facility – meaning there have been more complaints about facilities in the state than anywhere else in the country.
The average number of deficiencies per facility nationwide is somewhere between seven to eight whereas Washington state is over ten points higher.
In the ranking of substandard-care deficiencies per facility, the Evergreen State ranks as the sixth-worst state in the country.
The state also ranks among the top three worst states for food and dietary issues, heavily impacting the livelihood of residents every day.
Out of facility fines and payment denials, Washington state is again amongst the worst with over $950,000 in penalties annually.

Elk & Elk Will Be There for You and Your Loved Ones

Our firm has extensive experience throughout Seattle working with people whose elderly family members have been the victims of care facility abuse. To fight back against the harsh reality of negligent retirement rooms, Elk & Elk employs educated and highly experienced Seattle nursing home abuse attorneys. By reaching out to one of our representatives, you will take your family’s first steps onto the road of recovery. If you would like to receive a free consultation, please call 1-844-ELK-WEST (1-844-355-9378) or click here to use our 24/7 contact form.