Making the decision to place an elderly relative in a nursing home is a difficult one. As you are placing your loved one’s health and well-being in the hands of others, look for signs of nursing home abuse. With the increasing problem of nursing home abuse incidents across the country, making the right choice becomes even harder. Nursing home malpractice is defined as an intentional act or negligence committed by a nursing home professional which may cause injury to a resident. There are different types of elder abuse that can occur, all of which can harm your loved one in varying ways.
Types Of Nursing Home Abuse To Be Looking For:
Physical Elder Abuse
This type of abuse is anything that may happen to your loved one’s body. Physical signs of abuse include broken bones, wounds, cuts, abrasions or burns, welts, bruises, swelling, sudden and unexplainable weight loss and any hidden injuries. In addition, unnecessary restraints may be a sign of physical abuse.
Mental Elder Abuse
Mental elder abuse can manifest itself in different forms and can include your loved one having feelings of fear, agitation, or hesitancy, disorientation or confusion, depression, withdrawal or unjustified isolation, sudden changes in behavior or unusual behavior patterns and/or the unwillingness to communicate. Another sign of mental abuse can be seen if the nursing home staff is making rude or humiliating comments to the residents.
Elder Neglect
If your elderly loved one is not receiving adequate care and attention, neglect may be occurring in the facility. Signs of neglect may include your loved one having an unkempt appearance, bed sores, poor personal hygiene, smell of urine or feces, unsanitary living environment, untreated medical conditions or malnutrition and/or dehydration.
Financial Elder Abuse
It is unthinkable that someone would exploit an elderly individual, but financial elder abuse unfortunately occurs. Some signs include missing/stolen property or money, abrupt and/or unjustified selling of property and any other radical changes in personal financial affairs.
If you discover signs that any type of elder abuse may be occurring, call Joe and Martin at (843) 357-8888 to discuss your rights and legal options during a FREE, comprehensive case evaluation.
