Over 1.4 million people are currently living in nursing homes across the country. Sadly, many of these residents are not being properly taken care of by nursing home employees or loved ones who visit the facility. Nursing home residents may experience abuse and neglect while living in a facility, and it’s often up to their family members to identify signs of trouble. The first step to protecting your loved ones is learning about the difference between nursing home abuse vs. neglect.
Nursing Home Abuse
Abuse can take many different forms within a nursing home. The first is physical abuse, which is characterized by the use of force against a nursing home resident. Physical abuse is the easiest type of abuse to spot because the victims often have bruises or lacerations on their bodies.
There is also emotional abuse, which occurs when the residents are ignored, humiliated, threatened, or verbally harassed by someone at the facility. Victims of emotional abuse may begin to withdraw and avoid interacting with other residents or employees at the facility. Family members should look for sudden mood changes that indicate their loved one could be suffering.
Nursing home residents can also be sexually abused within the facility. Abusers often target victims who are unable to give consent to sexual activity due to their physical or mental condition. If you are concerned about your loved one being sexually abused, look for physical signs of abuse, including bruising or bleeding, and emotional signs of abuse, including mood swings and withdrawal.
The last type of abuse is financial. This type of abuse occurs when someone steals or misuses money or other assets from a nursing home resident. For example, if an employee steals valuable jewelry or blank checks from a nursing home resident, this is a form of financial abuse.
Nursing Home Neglect
Abuse is always intentional, but neglect may be intentional or unintentional. A nursing home resident is neglected when her basic needs are not met by the staff. For example, residents who are not bathed, cleaned, or given their medications, food, or water are neglected. In many cases, neglect is a result of overstaffing or inadequate training within the facility. If there are not enough employees to care for the residents or if the employees are not properly trained, the residents may be neglected.
Do you believe your loved one is being abused or neglected in a nursing home? If so, speak to an attorney at Reisch Law Firm today. Our personal injury attorneys will stop at nothing to hold the negligent parties responsible for their disturbing behavior. Schedule a free consultation today by calling 303-291-0555 or filling out this online form.
