While most people might prefer to think otherwise, abuse and neglect are unfortunately not uncommon inside nursing homes, especially those operated by administrators who do not pay close attention to their facilities. Even worse, abuse in these facilities can sometimes take the form of sexual harassment or assault of residents by unsupervised staff members or even other residents.
If you or someone you love has been subjected to this type of mistreatment while living in a facility that was supposed to provide high-quality and compassionate care, you may have grounds for legal action. A nursing home sexual abuse lawyer in Stamford can help. From beginning to end of your case, your dedicated sexual abuse attorney from Berkowitz and Hanna LLC can provide the custom-tailored support you need to obtain the fair financial restitution your family deserves.
Institutional sexual abuse remains particularly insidious because outsiders struggle to detect it, while victims often hesitate to report or discuss it publicly. Unfortunately, both those problems can be exacerbated in a nursing home environment, where residents may not only be unwilling but also cognitively unable to tell loved ones what they are going through.
With that in mind, it can be crucial as a family member of a nursing home resident to be on the lookout for subtle symptoms which might indicate ongoing abuse, including:
A nursing home sexual abuse attorney in Stamford can answer questions during a private consultation about whether sexual abuse may be happening in a particular situation and, if so, what can be done about it legally.
If a nursing home resident is unable to take legal action on their own over sexual abuse they are experiencing, a family member can generally step in to file suit on their behalf. If a family member does step in to fill this role, they are required by law to act solely in the best interests of the nursing home resident they are representing, and they can only recover—with very limited exceptions—for damages experienced by the resident.
Compensable losses in this sort of claim can range from medical expenses to various forms of physical and psychological suffering. A dedicated Stamford nursing home sexual abuse lawyer can go over what damages should be factored into a specific case during a confidential initial meeting.
Sexual abuse is never acceptable no matter where it occurs or where it targets, but learning that an elderly family member has been sexually assaulted in their nursing home can be a uniquely upsetting experience. As much as possible, though, it is important to stay calm and act proactively in this kind of situation, as what you do now to enforce your loved one’s rights under Connecticut civil law could have a massive impact on what the rest of their life looks like.
You have support available with whatever legal action you wish to pursue from a capable nursing home sexual abuse lawyer in Stamford. Call today to discuss your options.
Berkowitz Hanna
1177 Summer St 4th Floor
Stamford CT
06905
