Nursing homes offer a perfect place for seniors to live when they need help with everyday activities. Staff members are always on hand to tend to their needs, and they will get the opportunity to connect with a new community. However, while most facilities can be trusted to provide the elderly with proper care and keep them safe, there is a potential for nursing home abuse to occur. As such, it’s important to recognize evidence of mistreatment if your aging parent resides in a nursing home. 

How to Know if a Loved One Is Experiencing Nursing Home Abuse 

1. Poor Hygiene

When residents have difficulty managing personal hygiene on their own, the nursing home staff is responsible for assisting them. This typically involves tasks such as getting dressed, bathing, brushing teeth and hair, and clipping nails. If you notice your loved one is consistently wearing dirty clothes and has body odor, bad breath, and unkempt hair, this could be an indication of abuse.  

2. Malnutrition

If your loved one is being adequately taken care of, they should maintain their weight or gain weight in a healthy manner. If they’re losing weight instead, this might be a sign of malnutrition due to food being withheld or an improper balance of medication and treatment. 

3. Unexplained Injuries

Nursing home abuse may become a serious concern if your parent has experienced inexplicable physical injuries. If you see any bedsores, bruising, fractures, scarring, welts, or cuts during a visit, someone should be able to provide you with details on how it happened. Otherwise, this is a good reason to be suspicious of mistreatment.  

4. Behavioral Changes 

Emotional abuse can affect a senior’s health and well-being just as much as physical abuse does. Under these circumstances, it’s common for the victim’s behavior to change. They may become more withdrawn, show a lack of interest in socializing or activities they used to enjoy, act fearful of the staff, or turn anxious. 

If your loved one’s condition begins declining without a valid reason while living in a nursing home, look into the care they’re receiving. If you discover nursing home abuse is taking place, contact Danny E. Darnall, Attorney at Law, to discuss your legal options. For more than 40 years, he has advocated on behalf of injury victims and their families. Countless residents in and around Elizabethtown, KY, have relied on his advice and guidance when pursuing compensation for their losses. Call (270) 769-9179 to schedule a consultation about your case, or visit his website for more information on his services.