Nursing home neglect and abuse can take many forms, and not all of them are immediately obvious.
A thorough understanding of the following signs of nursing home abuse can help you recognize what your loved one may have experienced and take the right steps to protect them.
Physical Abuse
Physical abuse occurs when a staff member, another resident, or any other person in a care facility intentionally causes bodily harm to a resident. It can involve hitting, slapping, pushing, improperly restraining a resident, or even administering unnecessary medication as a form of control.
Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse in nursing homes refers to any non-consensual sexual contact or behavior directed at a resident, including contact involving residents who lack the capacity to consent. Perpetrators can include staff members, other residents, or outside visitors.
Neglect
A facility commits elder neglect when it fails to meet a resident’s basic needs, whether through inadequate staffing, poor oversight, or deliberate indifference to a resident’s condition. This includes failing to put interventions in place to prevent falls, hoyer lift drops, incidents, burns and pressure sores.