If you have an elderly loved one who requires daily assistance, a nursing home can offer a safe and comfortable place for them to enjoy their golden years. Unfortunately, not all nursing homes uphold the best standards of care. If elder abuse does occur, remove your parent or grandparent from the situation. You should also consult an attorney regarding legal action. First, however, you have to be able to recognize the signs of abuse. Get the facts below.

Types of Nursing Home Abuse

Nursing home abuse occurs when an older person experiences harm or neglect at the hands of those individuals who have been entrusted with their care. Types include:

• Physical: This is defined as non-accidental force that causes injury or pain. It includes assaults like hitting or shoving. There is also the possibility of sexual abuse.
• Emotional: This could include yelling, making threats, and habitually blaming or humiliating the person. It could also involve forced isolation.
• Financial: This might entail stealing cash, forging signatures on checks, or misusing credit cards or bank accounts. Money-driven scams, like convincing an individual to write a check to a fake charity, also qualify.
• Neglect: In some cases, the lack of action can be as terrible as active abuse. If the nursing home staff do not provide the patient with sufficient food or water or give them only food that they are incapable of consuming, they are jeopardizing their health on a fundamental level.

Warning Signs of Abuse

Symptoms of physical abuse include bruises, scrapes, bedsores, broken bones, and unexplained slips and falls. If a caregiver refuses to allow you to spend time alone with your loved one, this is also a red flag.

Emotional abuse may be evident in increasingly withdrawn behavior. The victim may also show signs similar to those of dementia patients. For instance, they may rock back and forth or mumble to themselves.

Financial exploitation is often seen in sudden changes in the older person's financial status. They may make large, unexplainable withdrawals from their accounts. Possessions like valuable electronics may disappear. Essential documents like a will or power of attorney may even be changed.

Salerno & Leavitt of Omaha has been serving eastern Nebraska and western Iowa with legal advice since 1992. If you suspect a case of elder abuse, contact them with your concerns. Their compassionate attorneys will advise you on how to best proceed to get your parents or grandparents the justice they deserve. They offer assistance in fields ranging from medical malpractice to car accidents. For an appointment with an attorney, complete the online form or call (402) 502-9002.