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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

ARIZONA NURSING HOME NEGLECT AND ABUSE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Learning that your loved one has been a victim of nursing home abuse is a horrific realization. After all, you trusted the nursing homes and caregivers there to provide exceptional care for your elderly loved one during their most vulnerable times. When they fail in this duty, you and your loved one have a right to hold them accountable for this abuse and neglect. However, doing this is not always easy. If you suspect your loved one is a victim of nursing home abuse or neglect, it is important to discuss your situation with an experienced Arizona elder abuse attorney.

The Arizona elder abuse attorneys at Miller Kory Rowe LLP have the resources and experience you need to navigate through this difficult time. We know that you have many questions about your unique situation. Below we provide the most frequently asked questions we hear. We also encourage you to call us and for a free in-person or virtual consultation. During this evaluation, we can answer even more of your questions and explore your legal options.

WHAT IS ELDER ABUSE AND NEGLECT?

Elder abuse and neglect refers to the mistreatment, exploitation, neglect, or harm of a vulnerable resident. This mistreatment typically results in injury, pain, suffering, or, in some instances, death. It can occur in nursing homes, residential care facilities, or any type of long-term care unit.

HOW COMMON IS NURSING HOME ABUSE?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are approximately 15,600 nursing homes in the United States. These facilities provide care for nearly 1.3 million Americans every year. An additional 1 million live in residential care facilities across the country. Unfortunately, each year one in ten Americans over the age of 60 will experience some form of elder abuse or neglect. Many instances of abuse or neglect that occur in these facilities go unreported. In fact, an estimated 84% of nursing home abuse cases go unreported or unrecognized.

Nursing home residents and/or families do not report instances of abuse or neglect out of fear of retaliation, a lack of knowledge of their rights regarding the nursing home’s obligations to their residents, or because they do not want to burden their families. Additionally, not all victims are able to communicate that abuse or neglect has occurred, or is occurring.

WHAT ARE THE COMMON TYPES OF ELDER ABUSE?

There are five major categories of elder abuse recognized by the National Center on Elder Abuse. Those are:

  1. Psychological or emotional abuse
  2. Financial Abuse
  3. Sexual abuse
  4. Neglect
  5. Physical abuse

WHAT CAUSES NURSING HOME ABUSE?

Many cases of abuse and neglect stem from nursing homes that are chronically understaffed with poorly trained caregivers. One nurse’s aide may care for up to 30 elderly residents in many Arizona nursing homes. Understaffed nursing homes are also often inadequately supervised and poorly managed. This increases the likelihood of abuse and neglect occurring and going unrecognized.

WHO IS MOST VULNERABLE TO NURSING HOME ABUSE?

Nursing home residents with any type of cognitive or physical limitation are at the highest risk for suffering abuse and neglect. This includes elders with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, as well as patients who are wheelchair-bound. In fact, according to statistics from the National Association of Nursing Home Attorneys, elderly women with a disability reported a 33% prevalence of experiencing interpersonal violence in a nursing home.

WHAT CAN FAMILIES DO TO PROTECT THEIR LOVED ONES?

If you suspect nursing home abuse or neglect, it is important to take the following steps:

  • Report your fears and suspicions immediately to the supervisor and manager of the nursing home.
  • Call the Eldercare Locator Hotline at 1-800-677-1116 or reach out to a local Ombudsman to report the abuse or neglect.
  • Contact your loved one’s doctor or physician immediately for a full medical evaluation.
  • Gather evidence of the abuse, such as video surveillance, eyewitness accounts, emails, or medical documentation.
  • Contact an elder abuse attorney for a free legal consultation.

HOW CAN OUR ARIZONA ELDER ABUSE ATTORNEYS HELP?

The Arizona elder abuse attorneys at Miller Kory Rowe LLP can help you hold the nursing home accountable for damages. Those damages can include pain, suffering, financial loss, and medical expenses. We investigate and represent clients who suffer from the following acts of nursing home abuse and/or negligence:

  • Bedsores, pressure sores, decubitus ulcers
  • Physical abuse including assault or battery and sexual abuse
  • Verbal Abuse
  • Psychological/mental abuse
  • Sepsis
  • Wandering and elopement
  • Falls involving fractures, especially hip fractures
  • Failure to properly clean the patient’s dressing or bed clothes 
  • Dehydration / Malnutrition
  • Understaffing and negligent hiring of unqualified, incompetent, or poorly trained staff
  • Failure to follow doctor’s orders
  • Medication errors
  • Exploitation
  • Failure to develop and maintain a comprehensive care plan for the resident

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

REAL CLIENT

TESTIMONIALS

HANDLED WITH PROFESSIONALISM,
PRIDE AND RESPECT
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“We researched a few law offices that would handled a delicate case in behalf of our beloved mother. From our initial meeting to the final, the experience was handled with professionalism, pride and respectful. We couldn’t have gone to a better law firm to handle our case. I highly recommend this law firm for any of your love ones with a wrongful death. We can now bring closure to the care center in this case, however, closure in loosing my mother in such matter will take time for healing. Thanks to Jeff, Gab, Lorraine, Lupe, and the rest of the staff for caring.”
YOU WON’T FIND A BETTER LAW FIRM!
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“You won’t find a better law firm! I have known Kory for more than 20 years and his dedication and work ethic are second to none.”
DEDICATED ADVOCATE FOR HIS CLIENTS
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“He is an excellent lawyer and a dedicated advocate for his clients. He has the highest degree of fairness and integrity towards clients, colleagues, and opposing counsel.”
IT IS A VERY PRESTIGIOUS OFFICE
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“It is a very prestigious office not only for the quality of the work but for the humility of each one of its attorneys, that their passion is to serve every one of their clients as a family member. The office in general does everything that is in their hands to assist in the best way possible every single individual that comes in through the doors of Miller Kory Rowe LLP.”
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FROM THEIR PEERS
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“I was referred to Miller Kory Rowe LLP after the sudden loss of my Mom. It says a lot when you are refereed to a different Lawyer because they are so highly recommended from their peers. It was great comfort to have Gabe and his Team of spectacular people with support and going to extra mile for my Brother and I in such a stressful time in our lives. No matter what complications that happen with our case they did an amazing job. The case settled out of court in our favor which meant the World to me vs. the pain of a trial.”
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Decades of Experience

At Miller Kory Rowe LLP, our attorneys have more than 60 years of combined experience helping individuals injured by the negligence of others. We are dedicated to getting our clients the settlements they deserve to help them restore their livelihood and peace of mind.

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With every case we pursue, our trial attorneys have three foundational beliefs: Dedicated. Aggressive. Principled.

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When you work with our law firm we put all of our extensive resources into finding evidence, interviewing witnesses, and navigating through the complexities and challenges that each claim presents.