Arizona Elder Physical Abuse Attorneys
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Elder Physical Abuse in Arizona
As shocking as it may sound, elder physical abuse at facilitates like nursing homes and rehab centers is a surprisingly common problem. Abuse can entail everything from acts of violence--like shoving, slapping, choking, and even punching residents--to restraining them against their will, to the use of medications to sedate or punish.
The improper administration of medications is a huge and likely underreported problem. In this case, for instance, a staff member who gets “fed up” with caring for an elder adult might give his or her charge a higher than recommended dosage of medication to “calm him or her down,” make him or her passive, and/or blot out memories of abuse or neglect.
Caretakers can also improperly administer medications due to gross negligence or carelessness; or they may forget to administer them at all. Consequently, elder persons can suffer withdrawal symptoms and other physical and mental problems from being off meds.
Physical abuse can also result from gross neglect. For instance, a nursing home staff member might lock a “misbehaving” senior in his or her room for days at a time or otherwise isolate him or her from peers, family members, physicians, or other staff members.
Detecting elder physical abuse can be harder than one might imagine. Often, seniors may not receive regular visits from friends and relatives. And when these allies do visit, the adult victims of Arizona nursing home abuse may be reluctant to admit what’s been happening to them. Conversely, if they do speak up but also suffer from senility, their reports may not be believed.
Given how much physical abuse goes on “beyond closed doors,” it’s important to get as much information as possible about what’s been going on and to possibly contact an attorney to help you consider legal action. To connect with a highly-reputed Phoenix Arizona personal injury lawyer to handle your senior abuse case, call Breyer Law Offices at (602) 978 6400, or email us through this site or through www.BreyerLaw.com.
