Putting a parent or other loved one in a nursing home is a significant and difficult decision. There are too many horror stories out there regarding elder abuse in such facilities. Those in New Jersey who believe that their loved ones have been to subjected to abuse either by care providers or other residents may turn to an elder law attorney for help.
Recently, a nursing home in another state was forced to shut its doors following an extreme incident of abuse, other signs of resident neglect and various violations. Video has been posted of an 86-year-old dementia patient being beaten by a 52-year-old resident of the Good Samaritan Retirement Home. The reported cause of the violence was a dispute over a cupcake.
This particular incident occurred in October 2017 and went on for two whole minutes. No staff members were on the floor to stop it. Police were made aware of the incident and, after investigating, arrested two of the facility’s administrators. Both have been charged with neglect of the elderly.
According to a study conducted back in 2016, one in five nursing home residents suffers some form of mistreatment by other residents. No amount of abuse is acceptable. Victims of such abuse or their family members may seek proper protections and compensation for any resulting losses. An elder law attorney can provide guidance and legal assistance to New Jersey residents who are dealing with nursing home elder abuse issues. Depending on the facts of a case, such issues may be handled in or out of court.
Source: CNN, “Retirement home shut down after a death and a beating,” Elizabeth Cohen and Michael Nedelman, Dec. 28, 2017
