Nursing homes were established with the fundamental purpose of providing high quality medical, physical as well as emotional care to the elderly who reside there. It allows their families to be sure that the loved ones are safe and healthy. However, an unfortunate reality of nursing homes is the abuse or negligence that may prevail due to various reasons. Numbers state that the New York Health State Department receives around 1600 complaints of abuse and negligence from nursing home patients or their loved ones every year. In such a scenario, it is recommended to work with a nursing home abuse lawyer to help. 

It is important to note that while sometimes the signs of neglect or abuse may be obvious, physical, or tangible, in some instances, they may not be easy to detect. This puts the victim/patient at a very high risk. Hence, if you or someone you know has a loved one in a nursing home, do look out for these signs to detect nursing home abuse:

First, let us understand the type of neglect and abuse that may occur in a nursing home. It can be categorized as physical, emotional, financial, or psychological.

Warning signs of physical abuse

If you observe signs of injuries such as cuts, bruises, burns, abrasions, and the staff is unable to provide a reasonable or gives an odd explanation, it is suggested you look into the matter. Moreover, frequent injuries at the same place may also be a warning sign.

Warning Signs of Psychological Abuse

Psychological abuse refers to using measures involving verbal attacks such as yelling, threatening, or humiliating. Some of the warning sign in this regard may be behavioral in nature, for example, regressive behaviors of the patient such as rocking, biting or soiling, a visibly strained relationship between the caregiver and the elder involving fear or withdrawal. If you notice these behaviors, raise an alarm immediately.

Warning Signs of Sexual Abuse

Many patients in a nursing home may lack the mental capacity to consent to any sexual capacity, and sexual abuse is characterized by forcing unwanted sexual contact with a patient. Bruises or injuries around private areas, sexually transmitted diseases that cannot be reasonable explained, bleeding or difficulty in movement may be warning signs.

Warning Signs of Financial Abuse

Financial abuse refers to forcing financial decisions adverse that are against the interest of the elderly and may involve taking their property wrongfully taken from them. Warning signs of financial abuse may include sudden interest by specific people in the elderly persons money, coercing them to withdraw money, unpaid bills despite financial stability, etc.

A common sign across types of abuses may also behavioral cues such as social isolation, withdrawn when previously active and extroverted. It is a red flag and the family should pursue the matter actively.

Seeking legal assistance

If you observe signs of abuse, a nursing home negligence lawyer is ideal to handle such a situation. Your nursing home abuse lawyer would be best placed to advise you on the claim to file as per the facts of the case. Moreover, the lawyer will ensure that you’re compensated beyond the medical costs incurred. They will file a claim which will cover for the physical, mental and emotional trauma caused to you and your loved ones as a result of the nursing home’s negligence. 

If you or someone you know has been abused or neglected in a nursing home and needs a nursing home negligence lawyer, contact us today. Reach out to Siler & Ingber by either calling us on 1-877-529-4343 or completing our online form on this page to schedule a free consultation and case evaluation with one of our experienced nursing home abuse lawyers. 

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