Best Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys in Huntington

FAQs

• What is the non-emergency contact number for the local police station in Huntington, New York?

  Call the Suffolk County Police Department at 631-852-COPS for non-emergencies in Huntington.

• Where can I get a copy of police reports for incidents related to my case in Huntington, New York?

  Visit the customer service window of the Suffolk County Police Department at 30 Yaphank Avenue, Yaphank, NY 11980. Its hours of operation are 9:00 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. For more information, call the Central Records Section at 631-852-6015.

• How is a nursing home abuse case in Huntington investigated?

  The collection of evidence such as police reports, patient or physician records, and witness testimony is important in building the case. The nursing home must also be investigated by checking employee records, maintenance/repair logs, and video footage. The victim's financial losses can be documented through invoices, billing statements, and prescription receipts. Additionally, possible abuse of other residents in the Huntington nursing home can be investigated by checking incident reports.

• Does the City of Huntington have an adult daycare program?

  Yes. The adult daycare program fosters a supervised environment where participants can interact with peers, obtain emotional support, and get intellectual stimulation. Eligibility to the program includes being a resident of Suffolk County, able to eat independently, and being 60 years old and above. The facility is situated in the Flanagan Center at 423 Park Avenue Huntington, NY 11743. Its amenities include an outdoor patio, meditation garden, and recreation rooms. For more information on the program, call the Program Supervisor at (631) 351-3293 or send an email to Amy.Geist@HuntingtonNY.gov.

• Can a victim's pre-existing condition affect their nursing home abuse claim in Huntington?

  It is still possible to go ahead with a claim in Huntington even if the defendant has a pre-existing condition that may have aggravated the victim's injuries in a nursing home incident. This can be done by proving that the defendant's actions made the condition worse, which makes them responsible for compensating the victim's losses from the worsened injuries. The presence of pre-existing conditions, which is common among the elderly, is usually pushed forth by the defense to diminish the strength of a nursing home abuse case.

• Does the state's comparative fault laws affect a nursing home lawsuit in Huntington?

  Comparative fault laws may reduce the compensation of the victim according to their fault. As an example, if the victim is awarded $100,000 in compensation and found to be 20% at fault for the injuries, they can only receive $80,000. Another application of such laws is when there is more than one party found to be liable, which means the liability will now be divided among multiple defendants. Using the state's comparative fault laws is a common defense to limit the defendant's liability in a Huntington nursing home lawsuit and, therefore, the compensatory damages they need to pay.

• How can the use of antipsychotics be abused in Huntington nursing homes?

  Nursing homes in Huntington use antipsychotics to control the symptoms of residents with dementia. These medications are only indicated for patients with schizophrenia, Huntington's disease, and Tourette's syndrome. However, a loophole in Medicare reporting regulations allows nursing homes to use antipsychotics on dementia patients without reporting it. Others get around the regulation by diagnosing these patients with schizophrenia. Currently, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will only downgrade the star ratings of a nursing home found to misdiagnose dementia patients. It does not have a proper system to inform the patient's family or intervene with patient care.