Nursing Home Abuse

If you have made the difficult decision to place a loved one in a nursing home or assisted living facility, the last thing you expect is for that person to be abused or neglected by the very people responsible for their care. You may even blame yourself for the abuse or neglect, believing that you could have done more to prevent it. It is important to realize that it is not your fault. The individual who perpetrated the abuse and the institution where it occurred are the real guilty parties. You have every right to expect the best care for your loved one, and if the unthinkable happens you have every right to seek justice and compensation from the negligent parties.

The Norfolk, Virginia based Law Office of Michael S. Weisberg, P.C. has defended the rights of Virginia’s men and women for over 40 years. We believe that it is you and your loved one’s job to recover from the devastating effects of nursing home abuse and neglect, and our job to take care of everything else. You have already faced enough stress and difficulty, and we want you to take care of yourself and your family while we make sure that the people responsible for your situation are brought to justice.

Nursing home abuse and neglect in Virginia

The Code of Virginia defines adult abuse and neglect as follows:

Adult abuse: the willful infliction of physical pain, injury or mental anguish or unreasonable confinement of an adult.
Adult neglect: occurs when an adult is living under such circumstances that he or she is not able to provide for him or herself or is not being provided services necessary to maintain his or her physical and mental health. In addition, the failure to receive such necessary services impairs or threatens to impair his or her well-being.

If you suspect that your loved one is having problems in their nursing home or assisted living facility, according to the Virginia Department of Social Services these are some types of abuse and neglect that you need to be aware of:

Types of abuse: battery and other forms of physical violence including, hitting, kicking, burning, choking, scratching, rough-handling, cutting, and biting, etc. Abuse includes sexual assault, inflicting pornography, voyeurism, exhibitionism, and other forms of forced sexual activity on an elder or an incapacitated adult. It also includes any sexual activity with an adult who is unable to understand or give consent, the control of an adult through the use of threats or intimidation, and the abuse of a relationship of trust.
Types of neglect: Neglect includes malnourishment, dehydration, the presence of pressure sores, inadequate personal hygiene, inadequate or inappropriate clothing, inadequate or inappropriate supervision, extreme filth of person or home, severe pest/rodent infestation, offensive odors, inadequate heat, lack of electricity, or refrigeration, or untreated physical or mental health problems.

If you are looking for an experienced Virginia nursing home abuse or neglect personal injury attorney who will fight for your rights while you and your family recover, look no further than Weisberg & Zaleski, P.C. With over 30 years of experience defending men and women in Virginia who have been the victims of abuse and neglect, we will do everything in our power to ensure that you receive the compensation and justice you deserve.

Michael S. Weisberg, P.C.
112 College Place
Norfolk, VA 23510

Toll Free: (800) 690-0235
Phone: (757) 622-7740
Fax: (757) 533-9223

Serving the Following Virginia Cities and Counties:
Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Hampton, Poquoson, Newport News, Williamsburg, Suffolk, Franklin, Smithfield; York, James City, Gloucester, Matthews, Isle of Wight, Surry, Southampton, Northampton, Accomack Counties.

Michael S. Weisberg, P.C.
112 College Place
Norfolk, VA 23510
Phone: (757) 622-7740
Fax: (757) 533-9223
Toll Free: (800) 690-0235
Email: info@weislaw.com
www.weislaw.com

Blog for Nursing Home Abuse

Library for Nursing Home Abuse:

Norfolk Lawyer Looks at Deficiencies in Large For-Profit Nursing Homes
Lower staffing means lower care in the largest for-profit nursing homes. Call Norfolk nursing home neglect attorney Michael Weisberg if you suspect abuse.
How Serious Mental Health Errors Occur in Virginia Nursing Homes
Loved one’s mental health issues left untreated in a Virginia nursing home? Call Michael Weisberg, an experienced Norfolk nursing home neglect attorney, today.
Norfolk Nursing Home Neglect Attorney Raises Concerns About Infections
Constant spread of infections in Virginia nursing homes is abuse. Contact Norfolk nursing home neglect attorney Michael Weisberg to protect your loved one.
Nursing Home Abuse – Use of Chemical Restraints in Virginia Increasing
Suspect the use of chemical restraints in a Virginia nursing home? Contact Norfolk nursing home neglect attorney, Michael Weisberg, to protect your loved one.
How Unsanitary Conditions Lead to Deaths in Virginia Nursing Homes
Protect your loved ones from Virginia nursing home abuse caused by unsanitary conditions. Contact Norfolk nursing home neglect attorney Michael Weisberg.
Are your loved ones in danger?
Nursing home abuse is prevalent and many nursing homes are understaffed which lead to multiple problems in the patients. Learn about ways to protect loved ones.
How Medication Mistakes Can Be Avoided in Virginia’s Nursing Homes
Medication errors in Virginia nursing homes can be fatal. Protect your loved ones by calling Virginia nursing home neglect attorney, Michael Weisberg.
Signs of Nursing Home Abuse and Resident-on-Resident Assault in VA
Victim of resident-on-resident assault in a Virginia nursing home? Call Michael Weisberg, and read this article about the warning signs of nursing home abuse.
How to Prevent Nursing Home Elopement
If your loved one is in a nursing home, he or she could wander off alone. For help with elopement prevention, contact Virginia attorney Michael Weisberg today.
Nursing Home Neglect Can Result In Criminal Charges
Nursing home neglect and abuse can lead to civil lawsuits and criminal charges. Protect your loved ones by contacting a Virginia nursing home abuse lawyer.
Virginia nursing homes can do more to improve safety
Contact a Norfolk, VA lawyer who defends the rights of nursing home patients. Our law firm can help you recover damages from nursing home abuse and neglect.
Neglect: The Silent Nursing Home Danger
News reports indicate that nursing home negligence is one of the leading causes of nursing home deaths and injuries in America.
Nursing Home Abuse Case Settled in Virginia
What Virginians need to know about nursing home arbitration agreements
You are right to be worried about signing a Virginia nursing home arbitration agreement for either a long or short-term stay in a Virginia nursing home or assisted living facility. Even if you have signed an arbitration agreement and now need to hold the facility accountable for abuse or neglect, you have options. A skilled Virginia nursing home abuse attorney can help.
Understanding the Nursing Home Reform Act
Nursing home abuse and neglect is a serious problem in the United States. The Nursing Homes Reform Act has increased the standard of care that is required of nursing home facilities that accept Medicare and Medicaid funds.
The Role of the Virginia Adult Protective Services Unit in Fighting Nursing Home Abuse
The Virginia Adult Protective Services Unit works to protect Virginia elders from abuse and neglect by accepting reports via their abuse hotline, performing investigations and notifying law enforcement of criminal acts of abuse.
How can you “move on” after nursing home abuse in Virginia?
The hardest thing about nursing home abuse or neglect in Virginia can be trying to “move on” after the abuse has been discovered. Terrible feelings of guilt can plague you, as can the feeling of being out of control and vulnerable. We offer a few basic tips to help you being down the road to recovery.
Ground-level falls: a source of serious injury for elderly Americans
Nursing homes and assisted living facilities in Virginia should be doing everything possible to prevent falls. Even something that seems benign like a ground-level fall (falling while standing or walking) can have very serious consequences for an older adult.
Questions to ask if you are concerned about Virginia nursing home abuse
Concerned that your loved one is being abused or neglected in a Virginia nursing home? Here is a list of questions you can ask your loved one to zero in on what is really going on. If you are worried about abuse or neglect, please don’t be afraid to take action. You can call our office any time for a free, confidential discussion about your situation.
Why Medication Errors Are a Problem for Virginia Nursing Home Patients
Virginia nursing home residents are at the mercy of their caregivers, and all too often these days residents are suffering from medication errors. Why are elderly residents at such a high risk for medication errors? Changes our bodies experience as we age contribute to the problem, but carelessness, negligence and overstaffing are also issues.