Even when a family researches the nursing homes in their area to choose the best one for their family member, nursing home abuse can happen. Nursing home abuse can take several forms, including physical abuse, financial abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, or overmedicating patients. The abuse may be from neglecting patients.
Some nursing homes may look good on paper and seem fine when the family tours the facility before deciding to place their family member there. But, in the day-to-day care of patients, they may put profit above patient welfare. Abuse may be hard to spot until harm has been done to the patient.
Can a Law firm Help Nursing Home abuse Patients and Their Families?
If a family suspects nursing home abuse, it is important to seek help. The first step is to report the suspicions to the nursing home management and demand the situation be corrected. If the nursing home is unwilling to investigate or improve the patient’s care and safety, the family must take further actions. It might be time to move the patient to a different nursing home for their safety.
When the patient is safe, the family might want to go after the substandard nursing home and demand compensation for their loved one’s injuries, emotional trauma, or even death. The first step is to learn more from stromlaw.com about what steps can be taken. Law firms will give prospective clients a free consultation to determine if there is a case.
In addition, the family might want to report bad nursing homes to a local ombudsman or the Department of Health and Human Services. It is important to report cases of elderly nursing home abuse so that bad nursing homes are closed or forced to improve their treatment of residents. A large percentage of nursing homes have some types of deficiencies where they do not meet federal standards. Nursing homes must be held accountable for their standards of care.
How To Recognize Elder Abuse
It is not easy to recognize elder abuse in nursing homes. Elder abuse can take place in private homes as well as nursing care facilities. The CDC estimates that as many as one in ten people older than 60 experiences elder abuse. Victims might be unable or reluctant to report elder abuse.
Elder abuse is defined as an intentional act or neglect that creates or causes the risk of harm to an elder adult. The abuse happens at the hands of a caregiver. Elder abuse can also be defined as a failure by the caregiver to meet the elder’s basic needs or failure to protect them from harm.
Spotting nursing home abuse signs is important. Some signs to look for include:
- Physical abuse signs such as broken bones, bruises, scars, welts, or dislocated joints
- Broken or missing glasses
- Sudden behavior changes, signs of over medication, or indications of physical trauma
- Emotional abuse signs such as emotional distress or agitation, sharing feelings of despair, or a sense of worthlessness
- Becoming unresponsive or uncommunicative or showing unusual signs of distress like rocking, sucking, biting, or neglecting self-care
- Sexual abuse signs like bruising around the genitals, distress and anxiety, vaginal bleeding or infections, sexually transmitted diseases, or sleep disturbances
- Signs of neglect, including weight loss, bedsores, poor hygiene, unsafe or unsanitary living conditions, or unmet medical needs
- Financial issues involving sudden financial activity and missing funds or sudden changes of wills
If any of the above signs are present, the family should take immediate action. Getting legal help to make sure a negligent nursing home is held responsible is important. When nursing homes are held responsible for elder abuse, they must improve or close. Those actions are necessary to protect future residents.
