When our elderly loved ones need advanced care, we often entrust them to local nursing homes. We tour the facilities, meet the staff, and make the best decision we can, placing our trust in these professionals to provide compassionate and skilled care. We never expect their treatment to be less than perfect. Unfortunately, not everyone has their best interests at heart, and abuse can happen, whether physical, emotional, or sexual. If your loved one is harmed in a nursing home, you need to know how to act and act quickly.
Recognizing the different types of nursing home abuse and understanding your legal options can help you protect your loved one and hold negligent facilities accountable.
The Different Types of Abuse in Nursing Homes
Abuse in nursing homes can take many forms. Some are obvious, while others are much harder to detect. If you can understand the different forms of abuse, you are more likely to catch the warning signs that your loved one is being harmed as soon as possible.
1. Physical Abuse
Physical abuse involves intentionally causing harm to a resident. This may include hitting, slapping, pushing, or the inappropriate use of restraints. Signs of physical abuse may include:
- Unexplained bruises, cuts, or burns
- Frequent trips to the emergency room
- Fearfulness around certain staff members
- Broken bones or recurring injuries without clear explanations
Because many elderly residents are already frail, even seemingly minor physical mistreatment can lead to serious complications.
2. Emotional or Psychological Abuse
Emotional abuse can be just as harmful as physical abuse, leaving deep psychological scars. It includes any action intended to cause mental or emotional distress. This can be verbal, such as yelling, insulting, or threatening, or non-verbal, like ignoring the resident or isolating them from others.
Emotional abuse often results in:
- Sudden withdrawal from social activities
- Unexplained anxiety, depression, or mood swings
- Reluctance to speak in the presence of certain caregivers
- Low self-esteem or unusual fearfulness
- Behavior that mimics dementia, such as rocking, sucking, or mumbling to oneself
3. Sexual Abuse
One of the most disturbing types of nursing home abuse is sexual assault or harassment. It may involve unwanted touching, coerced sexual activity, or exposure to inappropriate materials. This heinous crime is often perpetrated against residents who are unable to communicate or defend themselves due to physical or cognitive limitations.
Warning signs of sexual abuse in nursing homes include:
- Bruises or injuries in sensitive areas
- Sudden difficulty walking or sitting
- Torn or stained clothing
- A drastic change in behavior, such as withdrawal or fear of being alone
4. Financial Exploitation
Seniors in nursing homes are sometimes targeted for financial gain. Staff, family members, or other individuals may steal personal belongings, pressure residents into signing documents, or misuse the patient’s credit cards and bank accounts. Red flags for financial exploitation include:
- Unexplained withdrawals from bank accounts
- Missing personal property
- Sudden changes in a will or financial documents
- Bills going unpaid despite sufficient funds
Since financial abuse can rob seniors of their life savings and create unnecessary stress for families, it’s important to hire an experienced attorney as soon as you suspect this type of nursing home abuse.
5. Neglect and Abandonment
While abuse is an intentional act, neglect is often a failure to act, and it is just as harmful. It often involves the refusal or failure of a caregiver to fulfill their obligations, such as providing food, water, shelter, hygiene, or medical care to an elderly patient. It is one of the most common forms of mistreatment in understaffed or poorly managed facilities.
Neglect may manifest as:
- Poor hygiene or soiled clothing
- Untreated bedsores
- Malnutrition or dehydration
- Unclean living conditions
- Missed medical appointments
- Medication errors
What to Do If You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse
If you suspect your loved one is being abused or neglected, it is important to act quickly to ensure your loved one’s safety and hold the responsible parties accountable.
- Ensure Immediate Safety: If you believe your loved one is in immediate danger, call 911 without hesitation. Your priority is to remove them from the harmful situation.
- Document Everything: Keep a detailed journal of your observations. Note the date, time, specific injuries, changes in behavior, and the names of any staff members involved. If possible and appropriate, take photos of injuries and the living conditions.
- Report Your Concerns: Voice your concerns to the nursing home administrator or director of nursing. Document this conversation, including who you spoke to and when. If you’re in Delaware, you should report the suspected abuse to the Division of Health Care Quality. You can also contact the Delaware Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, which acts as an advocate for residents.
- Seek an Independent Medical Opinion: Take your loved one to a trusted doctor or emergency room for a full examination. This creates an independent medical record of their condition and ensures their health needs are addressed immediately.
- Consult a Personal Injury Attorney: A lawyer can help you investigate abuse claims and pursue justice for your loved one.
How a Lawyer Can Help Victims of Nursing Home Abuse
When abuse occurs, you are left dealing with the emotional trauma of your loved one being harmed while also trying to figure out a complex legal system. It can be overwhelming, no matter how much legal experience you have. This is why it’s highly recommended that families work with a nursing home abuse attorney.
A dedicated lawyer can:
- Investigate the circumstances of the abuse
- Gather evidence and interview witnesses
- Work with medical experts to prove harm
- File claims against negligent nursing homes and abusive staff
- Seek compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and emotional distress
More importantly, pursuing legal action holds nursing homes accountable and can help prevent future abuse of other residents.
Speak to an Attorney About Elder Abuse Today
If you suspect your loved one was harmed while in the care of another, The Inkell Firm is here to take action. We will provide compassionate guidance and aggressive legal representation to protect your loved one’s rights.
Contact The Inkell Firm, LLC, today for a free consultation and let us help you take the next step forward.