Nursing home abuse happens every day in California. Nursing home residents are often the victims of horrible elder abuse because they have physical or mental restrictions that leave them unable to communicate.
Nursing home abuse can take on a variety of forms, including physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, and financial abuse. It can range in severity, from small injuries, trauma, or fraud, to death, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or major financial losses. Regardless of the form or severity, elder abuse should be reported and its signs immediately investigated. Doing so will hold perpetrators responsible and protect your loved one and other residents from harm. The first step in preventing nursing home abuse is to recognize the signs.
If you believe a loved one has been abused in a nursing home, we can help. Schedule a free, confidential consultation with a San Diego elder abuse lawyer today by contacting us.
Physical abuse is the intentional use of force that may result in bodily injury or pain. Such abuse can happen to any nursing home resident regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, or race. The injuries can be very serious and sometimes fatal. Any sort of intentional physical harm to an elderly individual may be considered a form of physical abuse. The most common signs of physical abuse appear directly on the elder’s body and include the following unexplained injuries:
Many forms of abuse trigger an emotional response,which may present as the following:
Nursing home residents are weak, defenseless, and often easy prey for sexual predators. When a nursing home resident is weak and unable to resist or speak up, the likelihood of sexual abuse increases. Elder sexual abuse can range from unwanted touching to rape.
Fortunately, even though sexual abuse can be well-concealed, you will have a much better chance of saving your loved one from a sexually abusive environment if you know what to look out for. Signs of sexual abuse include:
Another indicator that a loved one may be suffering from abuse has to do with their healthcare, and includes the following:
Healthcare is essential for the elder’s quality of life, as well as their longevity. If the right to healthcare is suspended or denied, the nursing home is at fault and should be held responsible for their negligent actions.
Financial elder abuse is sometimes hard to recognize and can go unnoticed. Here are some of the most common signs:
Factors that result in an increased risk of a caregiver or other perpetrator abusing an elder include:
It is important that caregivers are truly passionate about what they do and feel rightfully compensated for their work. Taking care of an elderly patient is never easy and can sometimes be as emotionally frustrating as it is otherwise rewarding.
If you suspect that your family member may be the victim of nursing home abuse notify the nursing home administrator immediately. The administrator is required to investigate and report it to the state agency. Additionally, you should contact an experienced California elder abuse attorney such Joel Bryant. Mr. Bryant is committed to helping bring justice to the elderly and their families. He will help you and your loved one navigate the legal process to get your loved one and other residents out of harm’s way.
Nursing home neglect and abuse must be stopped. If one of your loved ones was abused in a nursing home, contact Attorney Bryant and his team today. It is important for family members to speak out on behalf of their elderly loved ones because many times, elderly individuals are unable to speak up out of fear, embarrassment, isolation, or diseases such as Alzheimer’s that leave them more vulnerable to being abused. One of the top elder abuse firms in San Diego for over 30 years, Mr. Bryant and his experienced team of San Diego elder abuse attorneys can help recover the compensation you deserve. Reach out today for a free, confidential consultation to see if your case justifies legal action.