Alabama Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

Common signs include unexplained injuries, sudden weight loss, poor hygiene, withdrawal from social activities, and changes in behavior. If you notice any of these red flags, it’s important to act quickly. Learn more in our post on Recognizing the Signs of Nursing Home Abuse.

If your loved one resides in a nursing home or other care center for the elderly, keeping an eye out for telltale clues or sings that may point to abuse and neglect is a good idea. Signs of both neglect and abuse can include:

• Bedsores

• Dehydration

• Broken bones

• Unexplained bruising, sprains, welts, scars, or dislocations

• Falls

• Malnutrition

• Fear of and other emotional reactions towards staff

• Infections

• Staff advising you that you cannot visit your loved one

• Burns

• Untreated or new health problems

• Indications of restraint, such as marks on wrists

• Torn and/or bleeding skin

• Depression and anxiety

• Medication errors, including overmedication

• Sudden and unexpected trips to the hospital

• Intimidation, harassment, threats, belittlement, or hostile behavior

• Withdrawal of the resident from normal activities

• Agitation, demonstrated by rocking motions, mumbling, or frantic behavior

• Weight loss

• Missing funds from financial accounts

• Added new users to bank accounts and credit cards

• Suspicious changes in estate planning documents, such as wills, titles, and more

Families across Alabama, from Montgomery to Enterprise, should watch for these warning signs when visiting loved ones in care facilities.

Start by documenting everything and reporting your concerns to the facility’s management. If the issue is not addressed, you may need to escalate it to state authorities or speak with an attorney. Our blog outlines the steps to take in What to Do if You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse.

This can include photos of your loved one and his or her surroundings in the facility. When you believe wrongful behavior has occurred, bring in an attorney to help you pursue strategic remedies.

In Alabama, you can report abuse to the Department of Public Health, but many families in Montgomery and surrounding counties also turn to attorneys for guidance.

Abuse is intentional harm (physical, emotional, or sexual), while neglect is the failure to provide necessary care. Both are serious and legally actionable.

Both abuse and neglect are taken seriously under Alabama law, and families in cities like Dothan, Montgomery, and Birmingham have legal options.

Yes, Alabama courts, including those in Montgomery County, regularly hear claims against negligent nursing homes. If a nursing home fails to provide a reasonable standard of care and your loved one is harmed, you may have grounds for a lawsuit. Contact us today to learn about next steps.

In Alabama cases, including those filed in Montgomery and Enterprise courts, damages often include medical bills, emotional distress, and sometimes punitive awards.

Those confined to nursing homes and other elder-care facilities have certain rights. These rights include the right to be fully informed of their health status and records, their choice of doctor and medical decisions, how they are treated, and preferences in interacting with staff and others within the home. Other rights include:

• Respectful treatment

• Freedom to participate in activities

• Freedom from discrimination, abuse, restraint, and neglect

• Freedom to make complaints

• Freedom to manage their money as they see fit

• Freedom to leave

These rights are protected under both federal law and Alabama regulations, ensuring residents from Montgomery to Mobile can seek protection.

Bedsores often develop in nursing home residents due to neglect. These injuries are common and are a result of a resident remaining in the same position for long periods of time.

This generally occurs in residents confined to wheelchairs or their beds. Bedsores are also referred to as pressure ulcers, pressure sores, and pressure injuries. Without proper treatment, these sores can become infected and lead to serious medical problems for these elderly adults.

Sadly, Alabama nursing homes in Montgomery, Dothan, and rural areas report bedsores when facilities fail to follow proper care protocols.

In Alabama, including Montgomery County, you typically have two years from the date of the injury to file a claim. However, specific circumstances can affect this timeline.

An experienced attorney can investigate abuse, gather evidence, and fight for justice and compensation. An Alabama-based attorney familiar with Montgomery courts and statewide elder care laws can make a major difference in your case. Read about our approach here: JP Sawyer’s Approach to Emotional Abuse Cases in Nursing Homes: Advocating for the Unseen.