Nearly 1.4 million Americans reside in assisted living facilities, which are a cross between independent living and a nursing home. Residents need some help with the basics of life—bathing, eating, etc.—but remain mobile, aware, and healthy enough to otherwise fend for themselves. While ALF residents aren’t as vulnerable as nursing home residents, they are dependent on the ALF staff for some things.
Staff negligence and abuse often occurs and a Phoenix assisted living abuse lawyer is specialized to recognize the signs and help the victims. The somewhat better health of ALF residents can encourage some kinds of staff neglect, simply because:
Regardless of their intentions, if staff members don’t do their jobs properly, the residents can be harmed, sometimes severely.
Of course, when the residents chose to enter an assisted living facility, it was precisely to avoid the danger of these kinds of injuries and abuse. If you or a family member has been injured by the actions of an ALF, contact a Phoenix personal injury lawyer experienced in holding these facilities accountable under Arizona law.
What is most important in discussing neglect and abuse in the ALF setting is how many residents need assistance to perform basic tasks. According to the National Center for Assisted Living:
In understanding the damage that can flow from staff failures in living up to their responsibility, it can be useful to distinguish between neglect, in which the staff simply fails to do something it should have done, and negligence in the way that the staff performed when they did do things for which they are responsible. Examples of neglect include:
In addition to the many ways that ALF residents can be harmed by neglect and negligence, they may suffer various forms of abuse at the hands of the staff. The three main kinds of abuse are:
Assisted living facilities know the abilities and needs of their residents and are responsible for protecting them from abuse and neglect. The liability of the ALF is often based on its selection and control of the staff entrusted with the care of vulnerable residents. Specifically, did the facility:
A significant part of monitoring includes monitoring the health of the residents. Neglect and abuse are most readily observable in the residents themselves: falls, fractures, bruises, malnutrition and other conditions indicate possible failings in care.
A Phoenix nursing home abuse lawyer at Knapp & Roberts is experienced in neglect and abuse cases involving care facilities. We understand the laws in Arizona and represent our clients with the passion, dedication, and financial resources necessary to achieve the results you deserve. We only get paid if you win your case against the assisted living facility. Call us today and tell us what happened to you or your loved one.
The personal injury attorneys in Phoenix, Arizona, at Knapp & Roberts have the compassion and trial lawyer skills to tell your story to a jury. We will get to know you and your family so that we can help the jury understand what has happened to you and your family and how it has changed your lives. Obtain the compensation necessary for the injuries and losses you have suffered.