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:
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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if your senior becomes withdrawn, non-communicative, uncharacteristically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.
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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.