If you have a loved one who is in a nursing home, you might not want to believe the truth about neglect in those facilities. However, it happens far more often than many people imagine. If you have someone you care for who is in a nursing home, you must learn more about the signs of neglect and abuse, and the steps you need to take. Too many elderly people fall through the cracks and continue to be victims because they don’t have anyone watching out for them.
Nursing home neglect and abuse can refer to intentionally causing harm to nursing home residents or denying them the proper care and treatment they need.
Signs of physical abuse tend to be easy to spot. These can include bruises, scars, wounds, welts, fractures, dislocations, and signs of restraint marks on the wrists and/or ankles. Broken glasses or dentures could be signs of physical abuse, too.
Some of the signs of emotional abuse can include crying, but not being able to (or not wanting to) express their feelings. It could also include behavior that is odd for the person, such as sucking their thumb, mumbling, or rocking.
Sexual abuse can occur, as well, and as with many victims, seniors don’t want to say anything for fear of embarrassment. Others might be afraid or unable to talk about what happened. Some signs that can indicate this sort of abuse include genital infections, bruising around genitals or breasts, torn or bloody undergarments, or anal/vaginal problems that aren’t related to the patient’s other conditions.
First, you want to start by being observant of the signs we’ve discussed above. Listen to the older adults to get a better idea of what’s happening. Make sure you visit as often as possible and always report any incidents or suspected incidents to Adult Protective Services. Don’t ignore the signs, even if you just worry that something might be wrong.
If you believe your loved one is a victim of nursing home neglect or abuse, you can’t wait to act. You will want to get them out of that situation as quickly as possible. You will then want to get in touch with an attorney at Grewer Law Group, who can take your case. Make sure you are working with a lawyer who knows and understands this area of the law. Your family member or friend deserves justice.
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