Unfortunately, elderly people living in nursing homes are often abused. This abuse can range from neglect to assault. If you suspect that a loved one who is living in a nursing home may be the victim of abuse, you should look out for the telltale signs of this abuse. These signs may include bedsores, STDs, repeated injuries from falls, and even malnutrition and dehydration. If you spot any of these signs, you should contact an attorney that specializes in nursing home abuse.
Read on to learn more about the signs of nursing home abuse.
Physical Abuse
Bedsores
Bedsores are one of the most common signs of nursing home abuse. Elderly people who are confined to their beds need to be moved on a regular basis so that they do not get bedsores. If nursing home staff neglect to do this, this can constitute abuse.
STDs
The rate of sexual abuse in nursing homes is higher than one might think. The rate of sexual abuse is especially high for elderly women. An elderly person in a nursing home who suddenly contracts an STD may have been sexually abused.
Repeated Injuries From Falls
Elderly people may fall on occasion and injure themselves. However, an elderly person in a nursing home who is constantly injured may be getting abused. This often happens to elderly people with dementia. They may not be able to communicate what happened, and staff members who claim that they have fallen may be abusing them.
Malnutrition & Dehydration
Neglected elderly people in nursing homes often show symptoms of malnutrition and dehydration. Malnutrition is often discovered when an elderly person starts losing a great deal of weight very quickly. Dehydration often causes chapped lips and extremely dry skin. These symptoms and sudden weight loss are signs of nursing home neglect.
Emotional Abuse
Even if an elderly person in a nursing home is not being physically abused, they may be taking emotional abuse. It is common for nursing home staff members to shout at and berate elderly people. If you notice that someone in a nursing home is suddenly depressed or scared of a certain staff member, emotional abuse may be occurring.
Financial Abuse
Nursing staff members may attempt to con elderly people out of their money. They try to convince elderly people to put their money into dubious “investments” when they are actually pocketing the money. If you have a loved one in a nursing home, you should keep an eye on their finances to ensure that this isn’t happening.
Contact a Lawyer If You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse
If you suspect that your relative is being abused in their nursing home, you should contact experienced nursing home abuse lawyers. It is important to find a law firm that has handled cases of this type before, as this experience will give you a better chance of winning your case. A good law firm will do an extensive investigation and collect evidence of any abuse that is occurring. They can then present this evidence in court to support your allegations.
