When choosing a nursing home for a loved one, how well the staff treats them and takes care of them is of utmost importance. There are times however, when you might suspect that your loved one is not getting the proper care or treatment they deserve. Nursing home abuse and neglect is a growing concern as the Baby Boom generation ages. The personal injury attorneys at AMBN point out that The National Center for Elder Abuse reports that nearly 1 in 10 nursing homes are cited for violation of federal standards that cause harm or serious injury to its residents. In these cases, involving personal injury attorneys may be necessary. Some of these areas of harm involve the following:
ABUSE and NEGLECT
- Lack of basic care
- Improper levels of medication
- Lesions or rashes on the skin, dehydration or malnourishment
- An ongoing medical condition that is ignored by medical staff
- Unusual injuries or bruises, scars or broken bones
- Soiled clothing on the nursing home resident, and delayed diaper/undergarment changes
- Improper safety precautions, such as restraints or locked doors
- Lack of appropriate physical or mental therapy for the patient
SEXUAL ABUSE
Sexual abuse is any sexual contact against an elder’s will. This includes acts the nursing home patient is unable to understand or unable to communicate. If you are unsure whether your patient has been abused sexually, you may want to talk further with personal injury attorneys for guidance.
PSYCHOLOGICAL ABUSE
Other warnings signs to look out for include abuse or neglect that affects a person’s mental state. Psychological abuse of a nursing home resident may include bullying, physical threats, sexual threats, or harassment. The patient may be isolated, ignored or treated like a child. The resident may begin to display behavior that indicates there is abuse. Things to be aware of include:
- Sudden changes in your loved ones’ behavior
- Unwillingness or inability to communicate with you
- Fear or anxiety of a staff member
- Disorientation
- Unprovoked anger
- Depression
FINANCIAL ABUSE OF NURSING HOME PATIENTS
Financial abuse can occur when a nursing home employee or caregiver in charge of the resident’s finances misappropriates funds, personal items or property for their use. Examples include:
- forgery, misuse or theft of money or possessions,
- use of coercion or deception to surrender finances or property, or
- improper use of guardianship or power of attorney.
NEED HELP? CONTACT PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEYS AT AMBN
If you or a loved one suspect any form of nursing home abuse or neglect, please call the offices of Anderson, Moore, Bailey, and Nowell to speak with a dedicated, experienced personal injury attorney. We are interested in the safety of your family member and will help you take the appropriate steps to ensure their proper care and treatment.
This blog is intended for general informational purposes only, and is not intended to serve as a substitute for talking to one of our lawyers here at Anderson, Moore Bailey and Nowell. In fact, the first step you can take towards resolving your problem is to have a face to face conversation with one of our lawyers. Our consultations are free, they are confidential, and we can almost always schedule you an appointment the same day we receive a call.