How Might My Loved One Get Abused in a Nursing Home?

You may place your loved one in a nursing home because you strongly believe that they will be in better hands if they are under the around-the-clock care from professionals and medical staff. And so, you may be absolutely horrified to learn that reports of abuse in these types of facilities are more common than you would assume. To protect your loved one from this unfortunate fate, you must keep your eye out for the smallest signs that something is amiss. With all that being said, please read on to discover how your loved one may get tragically abused in their nursing home care facility and how a seasoned Passaic County medical malpractice lawyer at the Law Offices of August R. Soltis can help you respond effectively via a legal course of action.

What are the different types of abuse that may occur in a nursing home?

Generally speaking, nursing home abuse falls into four main categories: physical, emotional, sexual, and financial abuse. Firstly, physical abuse typically involves intentional force or violence that may cause injury, pain, or impairment. For example, you may notice bruises shaped like fingerprints or hand marks on your loved one’s body. This may indicate that they are being handled roughly by staff members when getting out of bed, being transferred to the restroom, etc.

Secondly, emotional abuse may occur when staff members humiliate, threaten, or isolate your loved one. For instance, they may intentionally skip over your loved one when taking residents to common social activities. Such loneliness may negatively affect your loved one’s mood and mental state.

Thirdly, sexual abuse is sadly common in nursing homes, as residents typically have cognitive impairments that restrict them from giving consent to sexual contact. You may notice that your loved one has been made a victim of this if they have bruises around their wrists and ankles that indicate unwanted restraint, torn clothing/undergarments, etc.

Lastly, financial exploitation means a staff member stole, manipulated, or improperly used your loved one’s money, property, identity, or benefits. That is, they may take personal items from their room, using their debit cards for unauthorized purchases and ATM withdrawals, coerce them into signing checks or estate planning documents without a full understanding, etc.

What should I do if I believe my loved one is being abused in their facility?

Of course, your loved one’s safety is your top priority. So, if you have a bad feeling they are being abused in their current nursing home, you should initiate a transfer to a new facility. If this is a more urgent matter, you should get law enforcement involved. They will help you record the date and time of the incident, the names of the staff members who were allegedly involved, and witness testimonies. They may also direct you to other proper authorities to whom you can report this.

All of these procedures will prove pivotal in your eventual civil lawsuit against the negligent and abusive nursing home care facility. The time to act is now. Please prioritize scheduling an initial consultation with a competent Passaic County personal injury attorney from the Law Offices of August R. Soltis. We would be honored to represent you in your legal case.