Nursing home abuse is usually perpetrated by the facility’s caregivers and staff members. Sometimes, residents may also abuse their co-residents. Indeed, resident-on-resident abuse in nursing homes is so prevalent that a lot of care facilities consider such attacks a part of daily life. However, any type of abuse must not be tolerated. If you have an elderly loved one at a nursing home who has been a victim of abuse, a nursing home abuse lawyer in Des Moines is ready to help you seek compensation for the damages to your loved one.
Reasons Nursing Home Residents Attack Co-Residents
Resident-on-resident attacks in nursing homes can occur because of underlying factors such as dementia, some medications, mental health illnesses, substance abuse, PTSD, and overstimulation. In some instances, residents who attack fellow residents experience abuse from others. Because these victims may not be able to express the abuse verbally, they tend to be violent toward other residents.
For instance, an abused resident who feels that another resident is invading their space may lash out because they cannot communicate an issue. Also, conflicts may result in violence between nursing home residents.
The Responsibility of the Nursing Home
The nursing home where you left your loved one should maintain the safety of its residents. It should protect residents from abuse, including abuse from fellow residents. To prevent resident-on-resident abuse, the nursing home should have appropriate staffing levels, ensure the number of residents it has is at a manageable level, normalize resident-on-resident attacks, and thoroughly evaluate possible residents. If a resident is later found to be violent, the facility must take measures to guarantee the safety of other residents. Failing to take these steps to prevent attacks between residents makes the facility liable for the damages to your loved one.
How to Prove the Negligence of the Nursing Led to Resident-on-Resident Abuse
If you think your elderly family member sustained abuse from another resident because of the nursing home’s negligence, you must collect evidence to build a strong case. A nursing home abuse attorney can help you collect evidence of how the abuse took place and whether the facility could have prevented it.
In addition, a good attorney can request other information, such as documentation and surveillance footage, to prove the facility’s failures that led to the abuse. Aside from proving the negligence of the nursing home, you must also prove that this negligence directly led to the injuries of your loved one.