Brownsville Long-Term Care Neglect Lawyer

Long-term elder care is provided in many settings in Texas from private homes to designated facilities. The type of care given includes assisted living help with basic tasks such as bathing, dressing, personal care, housekeeping, and meal prep. With government officials estimating 70% of people turning 65 will likely use long-term care in their lifetimes, the quality of that care is important.

With approximately 15% of the total Texas population of nearly 29 million over 60 years old, state demographics indicate that older people are one of the fastest growing population groups. Experts project the 85+ group will triple as well by 2050 with more than 1.3 million reaching that milestone and beyond. Increased longevity requires care solutions designed for this group keep pace with quality and compliance standards.

While the more than 1,200 nursing homes in Texas can provide long-term care services, there’s also at least three additional ways elderly long-term care is supplied. These include:

1. Assisted Living Facilities (ALFs): This setting is for those who need help with daily activities, such as meals, laundry, or housekeeping, but don’t need as much care as a nursing home provides. Health care services are available but usually the population is medically stable. There are around 2,000 ALFs in Texas, according to the Texas Health Care Association.
2. In-Home Care Providers: Licensed health care professionals provide for health needs or other professional care givers assist with daily activity needs. These providers may supplement care by family members.
3. Adult Day Services: Like a care setting for children, these facilities provide social and support programs for a limited amount of time during the day. This option is often used by family or private caregivers when they need a break or to run errands.

There are a variety of reasons you or a loved one need long-term care. Sometimes more than one reason can be present. These reasons include:

• Age – When we get older, some daily activities become more difficult and help is needed.
• Gender – Because women live on average five more years than men, they often are living at home alone.
• Disability – According to state figures, nearly 70% of people age 90 and over have a disability or chronic illness.
• Health status – Those with chronic conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure might need help managing them.
• Living arrangements – Those who live alone usually need paid help.

Under state and federal law, the elderly are to be protected from neglect and abuse. This means that they should receive proper care such as hydration, nutrition, hygiene, and medical assistance.

Elder abuse occurs when this vulnerable population is harmed:

• Physically (hitting, slapping, choking, burning)
• Emotionally (yelling, threats, harassment, intimidation, withholding)
• Sexually (any non-consensual activity)
• Financially (unusual spending, surprise power of attorney, missing credit cards)
• Neglectfully (failure to provide necessities)

The Texas Department of Aging and Disabilities (DADS) licenses and inspects long-term care facilities. DADS is also where complaints about long-term care providers should be made.

Contact DADS at (800) 458-9858 or e-mail CRSComplaints@dads.state.tx.us with complaints about poor, negligent, or elder abuse by long-term care providers. By law, you or your loved one cannot be retaliated against for making a complaint to DADS.

The Texas Department of Insurance also provides resources for long-term care questions and issues.

Those who suffer elder abuse or neglect in a long-term care facility or other setting in which they receive such services, including at home, deserve to be compensated. The injuries may require extensive medical treatment, including for the emotional damage such harm causes. Depending on who the responsible party is, there are a few legal claims that could be brought.

Personal injury caused by negligence is one type of legal action that could be pursued. Under Texas law, we’d show that the long-term care provider:

The elderly deserve respect, compassion, and quality care that is free from abuse and neglect. If you or a loved one is experiencing harm in a long-term care setting, whether home care or in an assisted living facility or elder care day program, let us help. First, we’ll work to get you safe and receiving proper care and then we will fight for compensation for any injuries caused.

A Brownsville long-term care neglect claim is generally handled through the Cameron County courts in Brownsville, the county seat, and our local team knows the courts and the insurers — we’ve recovered over $850 Million for injury victims. Call (956) 982-1800 for a free consultation; you pay nothing unless we win.