Sharon A. Christie is a nurse and an attorney who represents victims neglect and abuse at nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Sharon is a compassionate advocate for your legal needs. She has successfully represented clients for more than 20 years.

Nursing Home Abuse & Injuries

Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect

Lawyers use the term “nursing home abuse and neglect” to refer to cases where injury and harm are inflicted on family members and friends living in nursing homes. But the term doesn’t begin to detail the personal grief, medical complications, and loss of trust we feel when we discover that the medical institutions and professionals to whom we entrusted our elderly parents or other relatives have instead failed to protect and care for them.

Laws exist to protect patients from nursing home neglect and abuse. My name is Sharon A. Christie, and I am committed to using those laws to protect your relatives and friends who are in nursing homes. As an attorney and a registered nurse, I focus my legal practice on nursing home abuse and other types of medical malpractice. The integration of my medical knowledge in my legal practice gives me superior resources to use in representing you. If you believe that a loved one has suffered from negligent care or abuse in a nursing home or assisted living facility, please contact me immediately at 410-823-8200 or by clicking here.

Abuse Is Major Problem
In U.S. Nursing Homes

More than 5,200 nursing homes, or almost one of every three, were cited for an abuse violation from 1999 through 2001, according to a study by the Special Investigations Division of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Government Reform. More than 2,500 of the abuse violations were serious enough to harm residents or to place residents in jeopardy of death or serious injury.

As alarming as these statistics are, they no doubt underestimate the number of nursing home residents who are affected because the report did not adequately address the number of incidents reported by each facility at which abuse was cited. It is likely, for example, that a single abuse violation affected multiple residents.

The government report concluded by stating that “abuse of nursing home residents is a widespread and significant problem” and that these abuses “cause significant damage to the health and well-being of nursing home residents.”

Signs of Abuse or Neglect

I believe that elderly people in nursing homes are deserving of dignity, respect, proper care and quality medical treatment. My mission is to hold nursing homes, their contractors, and their employees responsible when they have harmed someone because of poor medical care or abusive behavior.
In many of my clients’ cases, the most common problem is bedsores. Bedsores, which are completely preventable, are a reliable indicator in most cases that a patient is not being properly cared for. For example, a bedridden patient who is not turned frequently or one is lying in his or her waste is at risk for developing bedsores.

I also see a lot of cases involving dehydration and malnutrition. The elderly are particularly at risk for both of these conditions. Again, both are usually preventable with proper care. Staff should assist the patient with drinking both at mealtimes and between meals, and doctors should provide intravenous fluid when signs of dehydration are first noticed. The same is true of malnutrition. It is the nursing home’s responsibility to provide staff to make sure residents are taking in enough food, especially those who need assistance with eating.

Infections and falls are two other common problems brought to me. Close living quarters, inadequate care, and a frail population are an ideal combination for infections to occur. Failure to promptly diagnose and treat infections can lead to disastrous consequences, and in some cases can be fatal. Care givers for the elderly must be constantly on the lookout for signs of an infection and take precautions to prevent the spread of an infection from one patient to another.

Falls are another serious problem among nursing home residents. Not only can a fall lead to serious injury or death, but fear of falling can cause a downward spiral in the quality of life, including becoming socially isolated and depressed, which in turn can exacerbate existing health problems. A good nursing home should assess a patient for risk factors regarding falls, such as walking and gait problems or medications that could affect balance. Patients who are at increased risk for falls should have fall prevention strategies in place, which might include wander guards and/or protective padding.

Too many frail elders are paying the price for the failings of nursing homes and assisted living facilities. It’s not right. Please call me if you suspect your loved one has experienced neglect or abuse or any of the following problems:

• Bedsores
• Dehydration or malnutrition
• Inadequately treated infections
• A fall
• Improper medication
• Unexplained injuries, bruises, or welts
• Unnecessary physical restraint or involuntary seclusion
• Physical, sexual, or verbal abuse
• Wrongful death

Nursing home patients are mistreated because they are virtually defenseless. But we are there to take steps to help them. Abuse and negligence are inexcusable, which is why the law provides for civil claims when these actions cause damage. I can be reached at 410-823-8200 or by clicking here.

Your First Step Is
To Call Me:
410-823-8200

In my work, I’ve found that it is often difficult for nursing home patients to express when they’ve suffered poor medical care or been physically or emotionally abused. That is why it is important to look closely for signs that your loved is being cared for improperly. If you have any suspicion of abuse or neglect, your first responsibility is to step forward. I will help you determine what to do next.

I am Sharon A. Christie, and I am here for you. Please call me immediately at 410-823-8200 for a free evaluation of the case or click here. It’s important for you to understand the available options that could help the patient.

Receive a Free Evaluation.
Call 410-823-8200
Or click here to email me

Law Offices of Sharon A. Christie, P.A.
Compassionate Advocates for the Injured and the Disabled
 

Frequent Questions for Nursing Home Abuse & Injuries:

Web Resources for Nursing Home Abuse & Injuries:

  • Voices for Quality Care

    Description: A non-profit organization in Maryland dedicated to improving the care in nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

  • Nursing Home Compare

    Description: Provides detailed information about the past performance of every Medicare and Medicaid certified nursing home in the country.

  • Member of the Family

    Description: Provides easy-to-understand reports about 16,000 Medicare/Medicaid-certified nursing homes in the United States based on recent government surveys. Compiles a National Watch List of homes recently cited for violations or that have had substantiated complaints made against them. Maintains an Honor Roll of facilities found to be deficiency-free.

©2008 Sharon Christie, All Rights Reserved, Reproduced with Permission
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