When placing a loved one in an elder care facility, it's believed that they'll be treated with the care and dignity they deserve. However, this is not always the case. Nursing home abuse sometimes occurs, and it can come in many forms. By knowing the signs, you can stop it from happening, and an attorney can hold the responsible parties accountable. 

Why Does Nursing Home Abuse Occur?

Due to low wages and being understaffed, nursing home workers will take out their frustrations on the people they’re supposed to help. 

In some instances, nursing home patients also engage in abusive behavior. They can be physically violent, verbally threatening, steal food, or rummage through the belongings of other residents. While these patients may not be acting intentionally, the staff should be present to stop these events from happening. 

What Are the Types of Nursing Home Abuse?

Patients may be physically abused—most commonly being hit or pinched. Some staff members might overuse restraints or purposely ignore patients who have fallen or soiled themselves as a way of punishing them. 

While rare, sexual abuse does occur. Those abused tend to be physically or mentally limited and unable to stop the encounter. 

Psychological abuse covers both emotional and verbal abuse. Staff members or other residents may humiliate, berate, or shame a patient either privately or publicly. 

What Are the Signs of Nursing Home Abuse?

In physical abuse cases, an elderly loved one may have cuts, welts, bruises, or broken bones. They might have frequent injuries to the same areas or have unexplained injuries that don't match the staff's explanation. 

If staff members are neglectful, patients may have bed sores, be dressed in dirty clothes, have poor hygiene, or be dehydrated. 

Regardless of the form the abuse takes, the resident's physical or mental status will suddenly change. They may refuse to accept medication or eat meals, resulting in weight loss. During visits, they might become disinterested, scared, or prone to mood swings. Some patients also regress by biting themselves, rocking back and forth, or soiling themselves. 

When the abuser is a staff member, they may display suspicious tendencies. The staffer might be overly protective of the resident, who, in turn, becomes withdrawn or submissive whenever they're around. To maintain their position of power, the staffer might also attempt to dissuade family and friends from visiting with a myriad of excuses. 

 

Nursing home abuse is unacceptable in any form it takes or for any reason. If you suspect a loved one is experiencing abuse, reach out to Reed Law PC LLO. For nearly 20 years, Shayla Reed, attorney at law, has dedicated her firm to helping society's most vulnerable members. She handles each case herself and is known throughout Omaha, NE, for her dedication to her clients and her record for getting results. For more information on her practice areas, visit her website. To schedule a free consultation, call (402) 933-0588.