According to the CDC, over two million people over 65 live in nursing homes. As that number grows, an unfortunate result is that not everyone will get the level of care that they expect and deserve. While some nursing home residents are neglected, others become the victim of active abuse by staff members and caretakers. Nursing home abuse takes a variety of forms, and those are the focus of this guide.
Physical Abuse and Nursing Homes
In the skilled care setting, physical abuse can involve the intentional infliction of harm on resident, including slapping, kicking, punching and excessive use of restraints.The withholding of medications can also be a form of abuse. Nursing Home Attorneys in Glendale AZ can help clients after a family member has suffered abuse at the hands of nursing home staff.
Emotional Abuse
This form of abuse is usually less obvious than physical abuse, but it is equally abhorrent. Emotional abuse is defined as the intentional causing of fear, anguish, anxiety or other undesirable mental state. However, it’s not limited to active efforts; it can occur via passive behavior as well. In some cases, mental and emotional abuse can lead to physical harm as well.
Financial Exploitation of Elderly Nursing Home Residents
Elderly nursing home residents are particularly vulnerable to exploitation and fraud. Whether it’s due to poor eyesight or failing mental capacity, nursing home residents often rely on other people for help with basic tasks such as bank account management and reading mail. When a person is abused financially, Nursing Home Attorneys in Glendale AZ can ensure that the responsible parties are held accountable.
Sexual Abuse
Though it’s not widely discussed, some nursing home residents become sexual abuse victims. It occurs for many of the reasons listed above such as the resident’s reliance on others for care. This form of abuse does occur, a resident is often faced with the idea of reporting the abuse to the person who may have perpetrated the crime. It’s important to consider that abuse isn’t just limited to physical contact; it can also take other forms such as verbal communication.
If a person believes that a family member has been victimized by nursing home abuse, depending on the case’s nature, it may be appropriate to call the nearest law enforcement agency. At the very least, it is advisable that the family member Click Here to seek the advice of a nursing home abuse attorney.
