What You Need to Know About Nursing Home Abuse

Is your loved one’s nursing home adequately ensuring their safety? When you place an elderly person in the care of these facilities, you expect them to do their best to ensure that the resident is taken care of, but this is not always the case. Every year, thousands of nursing home residents suffer some level of abuse, and what’s even more alarming is that many of these cases go unreported. 

There are plenty of reasons why: the residents may be afraid that the staff members may mistreat them even more if they report; even worse, residents suffering from cognitive impairments such as dementia may not fully understand or even remember their incidents, let alone communicate their experiences. This article aims to raise awareness of cases of nursing home abuse. By reading, you will understand what constitutes elder abuse, the signs to look out for, and, most importantly, what you can do about it. If you suspect your loved one is at risk, lawyers with experience handling nursing home abuse cases, such as attorney Michael Duffy, can offer sound advice, listen to your concerns, and guide you through the legal process.

What Is Nursing Home Abuse?

It’s appalling to think of harm coming to elderly members of our society, given common decency directs us to take care of them and give them the respect they rightfully deserve. Any type of mistreatment, harm, or neglect inflicted on residents of long-term care facilities constitutes nursing home abuse.

 Here are the different forms of abuse that you should be aware of:

• Physical abuse: Examples include hitting, pushing, restraining, or even force-feeding a resident
• Emotional or psychological abuse: Verbal threats, insults, humiliation, intimidation, or isolation that harm a resident’s well-being
• Neglect: Failure of staff to provide proper care to the residents, including but not limited to medication, hygiene assistance, or medical attention during emergencies
• Sexual abuse: nonconsensual contact or harassment, like unwanted touching, forced nudity, or sexual assault
• Financial exploitation: Staff using a resident’s credit card, money, or assets without explicit permission

While any resident of a nursing home is at risk of facing abuse, some are more likely to suffer harm. They include:

• Those with cognitive impairments like dementia or Alzheimer’s
• Those who are socially isolated and have infrequent visitors
• Those who physically depend on staff for everyday care
• Those housed in understaffed or poorly managed homes

Signs to Watch Out For

Now that you know what nursing home abuse entails and the residents who are at risk of falling victim, here are some of the signs that should concern you:

• Physical abuse signs: Unexplained bruises, burns, cuts, or fractures. Also, take note of frequent falls that result in injuries without a clear explanation. Other serious signs are bedsores, poor hygiene, and rapid weight loss, among others.
• Emotional and behavioral changes: You may notice sudden withdrawal, unusual fear, depression, mood swings, or loss of interest in activities. Other residents may hesitate or refuse to speak openly in the presence of staff.
• Signs of financial exploitation: Missing cash, credit cards, or valuables; sudden changes in bank accounts; changes in a will, power of attorney, or beneficiaries without explanation.
• Indicators of sexual abuse: Signs include bruising or bleeding in private parts, torn or stained undergarments, unexplained STIs, reluctance to be touched, or discomfort around specific caregivers.

What Can You Do About It?

If you notice any of the aforementioned signs, here is what you can do afterward:

• Talk to your loved one in private and ask if they are okay
• Take photos of injuries, notes on behavioral changes, and financial records
• Ask for an explanation from the nursing home administrators
• Report to state agencies like Adult Protective Services or the Ombudsman program
• Talk to a nursing home abuse attorney for options for filing a lawsuit against the facility

The earlier you take action, the better. You may be able to stop the abuse, secure better care for the resident, and ensure that the responsible parties face the full force of the law.

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