Hi there,

Thanks for reading, if you have a truly urgent matter and contact us directly to speak with an Iowa Nursing Home Abuse Attorney.   Otherwise this is a short series on what to look for if you suspect nursing home abuse.

Over the years we’ve heard of nearly every problem imaginable, but some happen routinely and can lead to serious injuries.  When looking for a nursing home or if you suspect abuse look out for these issues.

Part 1 Not enough staff.   A federal study revealed 9/10 nursing homes are not staffed as properly as they should be – which means quality of care can suffer.  Under staffing leads to good employees getting over worked and as a result can be less patient and less responsive.

So if grandma needs assistance going to the bathroom, and goes by herself since no one is around, the chances of her falling increase greatly.

Stay tuned for more.

The number 1 most important thing to have when it comes to nursing home abuse is an active and supportive family.  Sadly the physical and mental capacities of the elderly are not the most reliable when it comes to recalling factual information.

I once read an article that states that as people get older their confidence in things pertaining to numbers increases with age, however their ability to make factual and logical conclusions about such things declines in ones golden years.  The article talked specifically about how retired folks are easy prey for financial scams and make money at home pyramid schemes.

In some cases the abused is not even able to articulate that abuse has occurred or the victim is injured. Many times family members are in the spotlight in the courtroom – and how the jury reacts to them whether fair or not can determine the outcome of the case.

Winning an Iowa Nursing Home Abuse Case: Reality

Simply put you can’t expect to win a nursing home abuse case if there is not significant permanent injury – sadly it’s just not enough to find a nursing home guilty of negligence or abuse.  There must be physical proof.

Nursing home cases are very expensive, sometimes it can cost $50,000 or more to try a case.  Most law firms including ours will advance those costs for you if we think you can win a fair settlement after fees and expenses are paid back.  In order to do so it’s common for the injured to have died or suffered significant permanent injuries that resulted in continuous pain and suffering.

The reason it gets expensive is because doctors are brought in to provide medical testimony along with other experts.  Unfortunately due to these high costs sometimes not much is left over for the injured resident or their family.  The worst part is that abuse continues to take place even though it can not be proven in a court of law.  This makes it too risky to pursue a case where damages are not significant enough.

In Iowa only certain kinds of mistreatment are eligible for monetary compensation.  That would include:

Past Medical Expense- an injured person is entitled to be compensated for medical treatment that was the result of nursing home abuse or neglect.   Or if that treatment got paid for by another person, they can be reimbursed.

Future Medical Expense: If it is proven that future treatment will be necessary compensation will be given – this is kind of a long shot.

Loss of body/mind function – while you can file a claim for temporary loss of function, successful Iowa nursing home abuse cases involve permanent loss.

It is also a slim chance that you can win a case based on mental pain or suffering.

To learn more about the ins and outs of how a nursing home abuse case works download our guide or speak to an attorney about nursing home abuse in Iowa.

Like other kinds of cases one might file, there is a time limit that you must file a suit within by.  Under Iowa law you must file a suit within 2 years you from when you were aware an injury took place.  Sometimes there are exceptions to this and these are treated on a case by case basis.

If you have questions you can’t find the answers to yourself then it’s a good idea to get in touch with an Iowa Nursing Home Abuse Attorney.

You can always download our guide which does answer most of the questions people have that pertain to Iowa Nursing Home Abuse.

Sadly if you suspect abuse of the elderly person you take care of, it is up to you to get an investigation started, and if it is found that the nursing home is guilty by either abuse or neglect, then you also have to take action on that.

Unfortunately no one else is available to take action except you.  Not an insurance company, not the nursing home.  When Iowa nursing home abuse is found, you need to immediately ask the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals to start an investigation on your behalf.  An Iowa Nursing Home Abuse Attorney can help you file your complaint with the state.

to follow up on my last post, here’s a stat from the Des Moines Register, as of February 2011 the register found that “Iowa has 27 sex offenders living in 15 residential care facilities for the disabled. They are part of a growing trend that has resulted in younger and more dangerous people moving into the most loosely regulated care facilities in Iowa. In some cases, the offenders have been ordered into the facilities by Iowa judges, the newspaper reports.”

The last sentence is very alarming, judges are ordering offenders to work in these facilities.   While I’m not trying to spread fear, it doesn’t seem like that bad of an assumption to conclude that people are likely being mistreated or abused.  We just haven’t found out yet.

Also don’t forget that many times it’s neglect that causes injuries to the elderly or disabled.  Also don’t forget that as a victim it’s up to you and your attorney to prove that the facility was actually negligent if you wish to win a legal case.

If you suspect abuse and want to learn more, please download and read our guide.

Iowa Nursing Home Abuse

That’s how the US House of Representatives describes nursing home abuse.  Out of the 1.5 million Americans living in nursing homes, one third of them have been cited for an abuse violation.  Out of that third 25% of them have citations for multiple abuses.  Terrible statistics indeed.

I’m sharing these stats with you today to make sure you are aware that this stuff is real.

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