10% of Americans over the age of 60 will experience elder abuse at some point in their lives. Elder abuse is somewhat unique when compared to other forms of domestic violence. Cruelty and neglect are present in all forms of abuse, but elders are often more vulnerable than others.
Seniors are vulnerable to dementia, arthritis, osteoporosis, and several other degenerative conditions. Any of these conditions can seriously hamper a person’s ability to care for themselves.
For this reason, nursing home abuse is a prevalent subcategory of elder abuse. Most elder abuse still occurs at the hands of relatives, but the statistics around institutional abuse are also quite shocking. We’ll talk more about nursing home abuse and what it is in this article.
What is Nursing Home Abuse?
Nursing home abuse is a specific type of elder abuse that occurs within nursing homes or at the hands of elderly care staff. Nearly a quarter of all residents interviewed reported physical abuse in nursing homes, and the total number of abuse cases may be as high as one in three.
Unfortunately, the vast majority of nursing home abuse cases aren’t reported, so accurately tracking the total number of cases is difficult.
Signs of Elderly Abuse
Since the average nursing home abuse case isn’t likely to be reported, you might want to conduct your own quiet investigation. To better prepare yourself for this, you need to learn the signs of elder abuse.
The most common type of nursing home abuse is emotional abuse, and one the result is often a drop in mood for the resident. They might seem more sluggish, sad, or nervous than normal. They might also be less active.
You should also be on the lookout for frequent injuries or a sudden, rapid decline in health. These are signs that the resident is being harmed or not taken care of.
Filing a Case
If you’re convinced that nursing home staff are abusing your loved one, your best option is to find a nursing home abuse lawyer. These lawyers are experts in nursing home abuse and can help you navigate your case.
They’ll be able to tell you if you have a case, or even if you have more of a case than you think. Does your loved one’s money seem to disappear or get moved around often? Do their medications and medical treatments seem to change for no apparent reason?
Both of these are also types of abuse. The facility should not have access to its patients’ money, and all their medical decisions need to be discussed with family members, doctors, and other relevant parties before being made.
Nursing Home Abuse: A Guide
Nursing home abuse is a subject that doesn’t get discussed often. Many people don’t even know what it is.
We’ve discussed nursing home abuse, how to spot it, and what to do about it in this article, staying informed is only part of it. You’ll need a lawyer.
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