16 May 4 SIGNS OF NURSING HOME ABUSE
Posted By Gruenberg Kelly Della || 16-May-2018
Different Kinds of Nursing Home Abuse
Nursing home abuse can take a variety of forms, including:
- Emotional abuse
- Financial exploitation
- Healthcare fraud
- Neglect/inattention
- Physical maltreatment
- Sexual abuse
Any of these on their own can be devastating for seniors living in nursing homes and for their loved ones. However, various forms of nursing abuse often coincide, producing multiple types of injuries and various signs that something is wrong. If your aging parent, grandparent, or other family member is living in a nursing home, you must be vigilant and keep an eye out for these 4 signs of nursing home abuse:
- Emotional, social, or personality changes: This may be a sign that your senior is experiencing emotional, physical, psychological, or sexual abuse at the hands of a caregiver, so perk up if your senior becomes withdrawn, non-communicative, uncharacteristically irritable, or demonstrates other significant personality shifts.
- Poor hygiene: Your senior may be experiencing neglect or another form of abuse if they smell of urine or feces, develop infections, have unkempt hair, or show other signs of poor hygiene or inadequate care.
- Physical injuries or abnormalities: Unfortunately, physical and sexual abuse run rampant in nursing homes. It is imperative to your loved one’s health that you take note when your aging loved one complains of discomfort while sitting or going to the bathroom. Also pay attention when you notice bruises, swelling, or other physical trauma.
- Unnecessary medical treatment: Sometimes nursing home staff will exploit residents by subjecting them to unnecessary medical treatment in order to be reimbursed by their insurance providers and make a profit for themselves. Keep a close eye on your loved one’s healthcare and be sure to talk to their physician about all their treatments, medications, diagnoses, etc. The more involved you are, the more likely you are to identify healthcare fraud or other financial abuses.
These are by no means the only signs of elder abuse. It is imperative that you remain as involved as possible in your loved one’s day-to-day life in their nursing home, in order to reduce the chance that a caregiver, staff member, or even another resident might get away with preying on their vulnerability. As soon as you spot signs of trouble, get in touch with an experienced elder abuse attorney in Long Island.
Serving Abused Seniors & Their Families for 50+ Years
At Gruenberg Kelly Della, we believe in sticking up for people who have been subjected to suffering, personal trauma, and financial loss through no fault of their own. Sadly, this is often the case with seniors living in residential care settings—but we are committed to righting such wrongs in efforts to help those affected and discourage further abuse. When you come to us with suspicions of nursing home abuse, we can walk you through the process from beginning to end.
Contact us today to tell us how we can serve you or call (888) 305-6372 to speak to a Long Island elder abuse lawyer immediately.