7 Most Common Forms of Nursing Home Abuse and How To Protect Your Loved Ones

When you arrange for a loved one to stay in a nursing home, you are putting your trust in the staff to properly care for all residents.

However, it’s prudent to look and listen for signs of abuse and neglect, since families from across the country report troubling incidents involving elders to ombudsmen and authorities.

What is the most common type of nursing home abuse around the country and in Mississippi? According to a report in the American Journal of Public Health, potential neglect is the most prevalent type, followed by emotional abuse and physical abuse.

Here are the 7 most common types to help you understand what to look out for:

1. Physical Abuse

   Examples of physical abuse include:

   • Hitting
   • Shoving
   • Improper restraints

   The main warning signs families should be aware of are bruises and fractures. If you notice your loved one frequently experiences injuries, it can be a red flag deserving further investigation.

2. Neglect  

   In these cases, nursing home staff fail to meet the basic needs of their residents, such as not consistently providing sufficient, high-quality food. Or, they do not tend to the hygiene requirements of loved ones.

   It’s possible you’ll discover that the staff is not paying attention to providing the necessary level of medical care. Cases of neglect often occur due to poor training or the facility being understaffed.

   Warning signs of neglect include bedsores (not turning the resident periodically from resting on one side to another), malnutrition and infections.

3. Emotional Abuse

   You may determine that your loved one is being subjected to emotional abuse. Examples include humiliating residents, isolating them and making verbal threats.

   The major warning signs of emotional abuse in nursing homes are:

   • Withdrawal
   • Fear
   • Depression

4. Sexual Abuse  

   Unfortunately, we hear about cases of  non-consensual contact or sexual harassment in nursing homes.

   These are most commonly seen among residents suffering from cognitive impairments, and who may not be aware of what is happening to them and/or not able to report incidents with clarity.

   Warning signs of sexual abuse include being afraid of a specific staff member, bruising and infections.

5. Financial Exploitation

   Vulnerable residents in nursing home facilities are also subject to staff forging documents to gain control over financial assets. Employees steal money, or manipulate the legal authority that should protect families’ loved ones.

   Warning signs of financial exploitation include:

   • Suspicious alterations of wills
   • Missing funds
   • Mysterious or unexplainable transactions

6. Abandonment

   This type of abuse leaves loved ones in residential nursing homes alone without proper care or supervision. You may become aware of criminal abandonment when you discover your loved one has been missing meals, or has medical needs that go untreated.

   If you witness unsafe conditions in the nursing home, that is more evidence of abandonment.

7. Self-Neglect (When Living in a Facility)

   The staff in a residential facility is supposed to intervene when a resident starts to decline in self-care but fails to do so.

   Warning signs of staff allowing patients to neglect themselves include:

   • Poor hygiene
   • Obvious weight loss
   • Untreated medical conditions

How To Protect Your Loved One

Here are steps you can take to protect your loved one in a nursing facility:

• Visit the resident frequently, and try to vary your schedule so the staff doesn’t become accustomed to when you might arrive.
• Keep an eye on your loved one’s behavior and appearance, such as being withdrawn or fearful. Are there any signs of injury or neglect?
• Communicate with staff regularly, in person and on the phone. Ask questions designed to show you are monitoring the situation with your loved one.
• You and your family should know the signs of abuse and neglect listed above. Whenever you encounter suspicious activity, report it to authorities or ombudsmen as soon as possible.

Legal Action and When To Contact an Attorney

If you have strong suspicions or evidence of abuse and neglect of your loved one in a nursing facility, make an official report. Then, reach out to a team of experienced personal injury and elderly abuse attorneys to get the help your family deserves.

Depending on the nature of the abuse and neglect, your compensation options include recovering medical costs, pain and suffering, and bringing the abusers to justice, holding them accountable for their crimes.

In worst-case scenarios, lawyers can help you process a wrongful death claim and arrange for compensation in this regard.

If You Have Concerns About Nursing Home Abuse, Contact the Lawyers at Williams Newman Williams Today for Assistance

Are you or a loved one experiencing one or more of these types of abuse at a nursing home? The attorneys at Williams Newman Williams have recovered millions for their clients and can help you. Contact us today for a free consultation.