Welcome to the city of Fremont website for Yeroushalmi Law. With experience in both class actions against large nursing home chains, as well as with individual lawsuits, the team at Yeroushalmi Law is equipped to meet your legal needs. We understand that a nursing home neglect case is not a simple personal injury or medical malpractice case. Therefore, we have dedicated elder abuse lawyers that understand the complex nature of nursing home neglect litigation and are compassionate and aggressive about protecting the rights of the elderly.
Established in 1956, Fremont sits in the southeast Bay Area, near Silicon Valley. Along with Newark and Union City, these three cities are grouped together as the Tri-City Area. With a population of 233,788, Fremont has grown to be one of the most populous cities in the Bay Area. There are seven skilled nursing facilities located in Fremont.
While there are many serious injuries such as pressure ulcers, falls, fractures, and deadly infections that result from understaffing and neglect, the Patients’ Bill of Rights also addresses issues such as hygiene and dignity. While some may believe that such issues are small and insignificant, we firmly believe that all humans deserve to be treated with respect, even if in the end stages of their lives.
For example, incontinence is one issue that often leads to violations of the Patients’ Rights regarding hygiene and dignity. Our elder abuse attorneys have personally heard countless stories from our clients of loved ones being left in soiled diapers for hours on end. Beyond this being a clear breach of the Patients’ Rights, it also demonstrates a clear disrespect for human life. Especially for nursing home patients, who are often already embarrassed or ashamed of their age, it is important that the facility provide staff who can tend not only to the physical needs of the residents, but also maintain the patient’s psychological health.
Unfortunately, understaffed facilities will often disregard the patient’s mental health in favor of saving time and resources. For instance, patients who suffer from dementia often become depressed, agitated, or combative in part due to lack of active dialogue. Specialists have confirmed that the best treatment for dementia is one that preserves the patient’s mental well-being by taking a non-pharmacological approach. However, instead of implementing fun leisurely activities into the resident’s daily routine, which has been proven to be effective, nurses often save time by using drugs to chemically restrain the patient.
It is important to note that these drugs are not even intended to treat dementia. Antipsychotics are meant to treat bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, and any other use of these drugs is considered “off-label.” While the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns that off-label use of antipsychotics is extremely dangerous and increases mortality in those who suffer from cognitive disorders, nursing homes continue to use these drugs at their convenience to restrain patients.
If you feel that your loved one’s dignity has been violated in any way, he or she may be a victim of neglect. At Yeroushalmi Law, we are dedicated solely to elder abuse litigation and can help you and your loved one through this challenging time. Please do not hesitate to contact us for a free consultation.