Signs of Nursing Home Abuse

 

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

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:

• Bruising, especially on or around the arms and hands
• Dislocated Joints
• Sprains
• Broken Bones
• Hair or Tooth Loss
• Burns (from cigarettes or appliances)

Emotional Abuse

Many forms of abuse trigger an emotional response,which may present as the following:

• An injury’s explanation that is not straightforward, or the “facts” change
• A strained relationship between the elder and the caregiver
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Social withdrawal
• Emotional withdrawal
• Agitation
• Signs of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Panic attacks
• Uneasiness around a specific person
• Efforts to flee the nursing home or certain care
• Avoidance of assistance for bathing, changing, or showering

Sexual Abuse

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:

• Development of a pelvic injury
• Problems walking or sitting
• Contracting a sexually transmitted disease (STD)
• Torn, bloody, or stained underwear
• Bruises on the genital area or inner thighs
• Bleeding from the anus or genitals
• Irritation or discomfort of the anus or genitals
• Unusual outbursts of aggression coupled with references to someone doing “bad things” or being “nasty” to the elder
• An increase in flirtatious and sexually suggestive behavior
• Unusual hostility towards male caregivers and other males

Healthcare Abuse

Another indicator that a loved one may be suffering from abuse has to do with their healthcare, and includes the following:

• Multiple hospitalizations for a recurring injury
• Multiple hospitalizations at different locations
• No care at all for an injury
• Cover up for an injury instead of treatment
• A delay in injury care for an unexplained reason

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 Abuse

Financial elder abuse is sometimes hard to recognize and can go unnoticed. Here are some of the most common signs:

• Canceled checks or bank statements that go to the perpetrator’s home
• Large bank withdrawals or transfers between different accounts without explanation or reason
• Eviction notices, evidence of unpaid bills or utilities being discontinued due to nonpayment
• The perpetrator acts as though they and the elder are in a relationship, or have a friendship between them, even if they hardly know each other
• The elderly person’s care is substandard, even though they should be able to afford better
• There are ATM or other withdrawals that the elderly person did not or could not have made
• The elderly person is coerced into signing powers of attorney or other legal documents that they had little to no understanding of
• The perpetrator has an obsessive level of interest about the elder’s expenditures
• Persons who the elder barely knows are added to their bank accounts
• The elder is missing belongings and/or property with no clear explanation
• Forgeries are found upon legal documents or checks
• Financial arrangements are vague and have little to no paper trail or documentation
• The perpetrator’s explanations of the elder’s finances do not seem plausible or in the elder’s best interest, or the story is simply fabricated
• The elderly individual is completely unaware or lacking key knowledge of their current financial situation
• If you have recognized any of these signs of abuse with regard to your loved one in a nursing home facility, do not hesitate to reach out to Mr. Bryant today. Your hesitation could be the difference in whether or not your loved one is safe, and their abusers are held responsible.

What makes a person more likely to commit elder abuse?

Factors that result in an increased risk of a caregiver or other perpetrator abusing an elder include:

• Depressed or saddened mood
• Lack of assistance from other potential caregivers
• The caregiver mindset that the elderly individual is primarily a burden
• Substance abuse
• Isolation: The elderly individual is often alone with the same caregiver
• A history of domestic violence in the home of the caregiver
• The inability of a caregiver to look beyond verbal abuse by the elder
• Unreasonable amounts of responsibility put on the caregiver
• Lack of sufficient experience or training
• Poor working conditions or environment

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.

What Should I do if I Suspect that a Loved one is being Abused?

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.

Why Should I Hire Attorney Joel Bryant?

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.