Oklahoma City Nursing Home Emotional and Psychological Abuse Attorneys
According to the American Public Health Association, approximately 9.5% of the elderly American population experienced some abuse or neglect in a nursing home facility. Emotional and psychological abuse is one of the more insidious forms of nursing home abuse because it leaves few apparent signs but is still harmful and unfortunately common.
Emotional and psychological abuse can come from a member of the staff, a designated caregiver, or a volunteer that works in the home. This type of abuse can also occur from family members or other residents. Any psychological distress or emotional pain caused by a caregiver may be considered emotional abuse. You may be able to hold abusive caregivers financially responsible for their actions with the help of an experienced nursing home abuse lawyer.
If you suspect a family member is a victim of emotional or psychological abuse in a nursing home, Abel Law Firm can help. Our Oklahoma City nursing home abuse attorneys are dedicated to protecting senior citizens’ rights. Contact us at (405) 239-7046 to discuss your legal options.
How a Nursing Home Abuse Attorney Can Help
Emotional abuse claims are particularly difficult claims to pursue on your own. Proving emotional abuse is hard, especially if the victim is mentally impaired or too intimidated to come forward with a claim. There is rarely indisputable physical evidence left behind after emotional abuse, which can turn the claim into a he-said-she-said dispute. Furthermore, nursing home facilities often employ aggressive attorneys to defend cases involving nursing home abuse to avoid losing their reputation and paying out large settlements. At the same time, you and your family are likely highly stressed and emotional after discovering abuse, making pursuing a claim even more difficult.
Instead of fighting through your pain against these problematic odds, hiring an attorney to help you with your nursing home claim is best. A lawyer with experience handling emotional abuse claims will know what evidence to look for and how best to present it. They can negotiate with insurance agencies and opposing lawyers on your behalf. They can ensure you complete all your paperwork on time and file it appropriately. With a lawyer’s help, you will likely recover much more money than you would be trying to bring your claim yourself.
Why Choose Us?
Abel Law Firm has 130 years of combined experience handling cases involving nursing home abuse across Oklahoma. We are dedicated to helping vulnerable seniors. We understand that your family is going through a very difficult time, and we can provide the help and compassion you need. Over the years, we have won millions of dollars in compensation for our clients, allowing us to join the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. We have been honored with numerous awards for our success on behalf of our clients, including being named a perfect 10.0 “Superb” rating with Avvo and an AV-Preeminent rating with Martindale-Hubbell.
Emotional and Psychological Abuse Cases We Handle
Emotional and psychological abuse can come in a variety of forms. Any intentional or unintentional action that causes emotional pain and suffering may be considered emotional abuse. Some of the more common forms that emotional abuse takes in nursing homes include:
- Humiliation or ridicule
- Scapegoating, habitual blaming, or demeaning behavior
- Psychological manipulation through lies
- Direct or indirect threats
- Isolating the resident from friends, family, and/or social activities
- Terrorizing or menacing
- Ignoring or neglecting the resident’s needs
These actions can be taken by nursing home staff, family members, or other residents. They may result from intentional maliciousness or unintentional if a caregiver is stressed and lashes out or causes harm without meaning to. Either way, the abuser may be held accountable for their actions.
Knowing the Signs of Emotional and Psychological Abuse
If you think your loved one may be the victim of emotional abuse in a nursing home, look for the following signs:
- Seems withdrawn, depressed, or shy if the victim was previously outgoing
- Doesn’t speak freely, which may indicate a fear of other people finding out about the abuse
- Appears hopeless, scared, or disturbed
- Low self-esteem
- Avoids eye contact
- Displays a desire to hurt someone else or themselves
- Sudden changes in eating or sleeping patterns
- Sudden mood swings
- Is stopped from acting or making their own decisions
- Is prevented from seeing or calling other people
- Not allowed to join in social interactions
If you suspect your loved one suffers from emotional abuse, do not hesitate to contact Abel Law Firm. Even if you are unsure, contacting us is better than allowing possible abuse to continue. We can investigate your loved one’s circumstances to determine whether abuse is occurring and you have a case.
Contact Our Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys Today
If you suspect your loved one is a victim of nursing home abuse, you need to take immediate action. When elderly individuals are emotionally or psychologically traumatized at the hands of another, they may be entitled to significant financial compensation. At Abel Law Firm, our OKC nursing home abuse lawyers will fight to secure financial compensation for your loved one and ensure that they are placed into safe hands. Contact us for a free consultation at (405) 239-7046 today.
