What Are the Signs of Nursing Home Abuse?

If you do not have the means to take care of your elder full-time, you may trust that you are putting them in good hands at an established nursing home care facility. However, lately, you may notice that your elder looks different or acts oddly. With this, you may have the lingering fear that they may be being mistreated by the facility’s staff. If so, please read on to discover the most common signs and how a seasoned Passaic County nursing home abuse lawyer at the Law Offices of August R. Soltis can help protect your elder from this treatment.

What are the most common signs of nursing home abuse?

Sadly, nursing home abuse may take on many forms. It is important that you pay close attention to any of the following signs so that you can place your loved one in immediate safety:

• Your loved one may be getting physically abused if: you notice unexplained cuts or bruises on their body.
• Your loved one may be getting emotionally abused if: you notice them withdrawn or isolated from other residents.
• Your loved one may be getting financially abused if: you notice personal possessions in their room are missing.
• Your loved one may be getting sexually abused if: you notice their undergarments are ripped or stained.
• Your loved one may be getting neglected if: you notice them wandering the halls of the facility unsupervised.

Can I file a nursing home abuse claim on behalf of my loved one?

Your loved one may be made a vulnerable victim because they do not have the mental capacity to comprehend or speak about the abuse they are experiencing in their nursing home care facility. This is why, if you notice even the smallest sign of abuse, you must step up and serve as their biggest advocate.

Once you remove them from this facility and place them in immediate safety, you may start contemplating filing a nursing home abuse claim against the negligent staff. Yes, in the state of New Jersey, you have the authority to initiate this civil lawsuit on your loved one’s behalf if they are mentally incapacitated or otherwise unable to file themselves (i.e., deceased).

With a successful lawsuit, you may be able to recover financial compensation for your loved one’s medical expenses attributed to their incurred bodily injuries, emotional distress over the incident or series of incidents, and other relevant damages. Aside from this, you should also report the nursing home abuse to the New Jersey Department of Health. This is so that other vulnerable individuals in the elderly community are not made victims of the same negligent behaviors and actions.

If you are ready to fight for the justice your loved one deserves, please retain the services of a competent Passaic County personal injury attorney from the Law Offices of August R. Soltis. Without a question, we will work with your and your loved one’s best interests at heart.