Choosing a nursing home for your loved one is a significant decision filled with emotions and concerns. We all want the best care and safety for our elders, but unfortunately, studies suggest that elder abuse in nursing homes is as prevalent as child abuse. However, there are ways to ensure your loved one's well-being, and legal options are available if something goes wrong.
Understanding Elder Abuse in Nursing Homes
Elder abuse can take various forms, and it's crucial to be aware of the main types of abuse that can occur.
- Physical abuse: This involves inflicting bodily harm, such as hitting, pushing, slapping, or restraining an older adult against their will.
- Emotional/psychological abuse: Yelling, threatening, using hurtful words, repeatedly ignoring, or isolating an older adult from friends and family can cause severe emotional harm.
- Neglect: When caregivers fail to meet an older adult's basic needs, such as withholding food, medication, sanitation, or access to healthcare, it constitutes neglect.
- Abandonment: Leaving a vulnerable older adult alone or without supervision, depriving them of necessary assistance, is considered abandonment.
- Sexual abuse: Subjecting an older adult to unwanted touching, sexual attention, or forcing them to witness or engage in sexual acts is a severe violation of their rights.
- Financial abuse: This form involves stealing money or belongings, forging checks, mismanaging bank accounts, or changing legal documents without permission.
Nursing home neglect and abuse often occur behind closed doors, highlighting the importance of remaining vigilant. Regular visits to your loved one are crucial for the prevention and detection of nursing home abuse.
Recognizing Signs of Nursing Home Abuse
Detecting abuse can be challenging, but it's essential to watch for significant physical or emotional changes in your loved one. Signs of nursing home abuse may include:
- Unexplained bruises, burns, cuts, or scars
- Broken eyeglasses/frames
- Weight loss
- Bed sores
- Poor hygiene (unwashed hair or dirty clothes)
- Hazardous, unsafe, or unclean living conditions
- Withdrawn, agitated, or depressed mood
- Violent outbursts
- Rocking back and forth
- Trouble sleeping
- Unpaid bills despite adequate financial resources
- Sudden financial changes
If you notice any of these signs, talk to your loved one, keeping in mind they may be afraid or unable to ask for help. Never trust a nursing home that denies you alone time with your loved one.
Seeking Justice for Your Loved Ones
You have the right to hold nursing home staff accountable for any abuse suffered by you or your loved one. If you suspect abuse, it's essential to take immediate action.
Before confronting the nursing home, seek assistance from our compassionate nursing home abuse attorneys. Our dedicated team will listen attentively to your concerns and apply our expertise to your case. We can help remove your loved one from dangerous situations, gather evidence, and hold the perpetrators accountable. Additionally, we can assist you in pursuing the compensation your family needs to recover from this tragedy.
Consequences of Nursing Home Abuse
Elder abuse can cause physical and psychological harm to aging adults. In addition to physical injuries, it can lead to fear, anxiety, trust issues, and mental health conditions. Tragically, elder abuse can even lead to premature death.
Protecting Our Community
At Carroll & Nuttall, PC, we refuse to tolerate nursing home neglect and abuse, and we encourage you to do the same. When you reach out to us, our compassionate attorneys will listen attentively before applying our expertise to your case. We genuinely care about our community and your well-being, and we are dedicated to making Fairfax and its surrounding areas safer and better for older adults.
Let us fight for the justice you and your loved ones deserve. Together, we can protect our vulnerable elders and ensure they receive the care and respect they deserve. Contact Carroll & Nuttall, PC today to take action against nursing home abuse.