Nursing Home Abuse: What to Watch For
If you’ve helped your elderly loved one move to a nursing home, you probably made the decision to help them get there because you thought a nursing home would be the best place for them. You expected the nursing ho I have me to provide compassionate, high-quality care that meets your loved ones needs.
However, while most of the staff at nursing homes are kind, qualified professionals, nursing home residents suffer mistreatment far too often. Elderly people are very vulnerable, which makes them easy to neglect or abuse. Learn the signs of mistreatment below, and if you suspect that the staff at your loved one’s nursing home has caused your loved one harm, speak with an experienced nursing home lawyer immediately.
Signs Your Loved One Is Being Mistreated
Elderly people often don’t report neglect or abuse because they are ashamed or embarrassed, or they don’t want to be unkind to the people taking care of them. Nursing home residents might also be afraid, since the people who mistreat them are also the ones whom the residents depend on for daily necessities. And, of course, some nursing home residents are simply incapable of reporting abuse or neglect due to the physical or mental condition.
Consequently, the loved ones of residents are usually the ones to report the abuse and fix the problem, but only if they recognize what’s going on. Look for signs like the following.
Unexplained Injuries
Your loved one may be suffering from neglect or abuse if you notice:
- Bedsores. If the staff is supposed to help your loved one turn or move in their bed regularly, they may not be doing their job if you loved one develops these sores.
- Skin injuries. Does your loved one have new bruises, cuts, or burns?
- Bone or joint injuries. If your loved one has broken a bone or sprained a joint, they may have been either physically abused or been neglected — for example, the nursing home may have neglected to keep the floor free of debris, which caused your loved one to fall.
- Evidence of sexual abuse. As horrifying as it sounds, some staff members of nursing homes have been known to sexually abuse residents. If your loved one has bruised or swollen genitals, or they have a sexually transmitted disease that no one can explain, someone may have abused them.
If you’re not sure if your loved one’s injuries are signs of abuse or neglect, make sure to speak with your doctor.
Worsening Health
Due to uncaring, untrained, or overworked staff, your loved one’s medical needs may not be met. Watch out for:
- Evidence that they haven’t taken their medication, such as full pill bottles
- Unexplained weight loss
- Worsening personal hygiene
While elderly people do tend to have generally declining health, watch for any sudden changes, especially ones that aren’t caused by medical changes.
Changes in Mood or Social Life
While changes in your loved one’s mood or social activities can have many causes, including benign ones, they could also be warnings that the nursing home staff aren’t treating your loved one well. Watch for:
- Sudden changes in mood or behavior
- Withdrawal from family, friends, and social activities
- Isolation that the staff imposes — if your loved one wants to see you, you should always be allowed access to them
Keep in touch with your loved one, and look closer if you think that their mental health is suffering.
What to Do If You Suspect Neglect or Abuse
If you suspect that your loved one needs help, take action immediately. You can start by reporting your suspicions to the proper authorities. If you think your loved one is in immediate danger, call the police. Otherwise, contact your local branch of Adult Protective Services so they can investigate and determine if your loved one’s treatment.
If the authorities determine that the staff at the nursing home have committed a crime against your loved one, they will press criminal charges against them. While this stops the abuse and prevents the offender from hurting anyone else, you may want to go further to help your loved one get justice.
Look into hiring a lawyer that has experience with nursing home cases. Your lawyer will help you gather evidence of your loved one’s suffering, determine who is liable for the damages, and seek compensation to help your loved one become financially whole again as they heal. You’ll be able to seek damages for medical bills, but also for things like pain and suffering from their injuries, lasting harm caused by the abuse or neglect, and mental anguish.
If you need an experienced nursing home lawyer in the Philadelphia, PA, area, reach out to Clearfield & Associates. Our team will help you and your loved one through every step of the process. Call today to set up a consultation.