Nursing home abuse is sadly much more common than people realize. Although people may assume that their loved one’s complaints are exaggerated in an attempt to garner sympathy, they may have actually experienced significant misconduct in a nursing home.
Nursing home abuse can cause an assortment of significant, lasting negative consequences for the people who rely on professionals for their health and safety in their golden years. The loved ones of those living in nursing homes need to keep a close eye on the situation to protect residents from abusive behavior.
What are common types of abuse that people may experience in nursing homes?
1. Physical abuse
When people talk about nursing home abuse, they often specifically reference physical elder abuse. Physical abuse can involve hitting or pushing older adults. It might involve withholding food and medication. It could even involve non-consensual sexual behavior.
Physical abuse may leave scars and wounds in some cases. Other times, nursing home professionals are cautious and avoid leaving telltale signs of physical abuse.
2. Emotional abuse
People in nursing homes may be particularly susceptible to emotional abuse. They no longer have robust social networks to support them when they feel attacked or belittled by those in positions of authority.
Emotional abuse in a nursing home can entail conduct ranging from gaslighting that makes an older adult feel like their mind is unreliable to degrading, insulting speech. Emotional abuse can significantly affect an older adult’s quality of life and self-perception. They may withdraw from other relationships and activities they enjoy because of emotional abuse.
3. Financial abuse
Sometimes, the people working in nursing homes try to use their positions of trust for personal financial gain. They might steal physical property that belongs to a resident. Jewelry, watches and keepsakes could go missing from their room. Other times, financial abuse might involve taking cash, writing checks or using a resident’s credit card to make personal purchases.
Financial abuse can also involve manipulative behavior intended to force an older adult to change their estate plan. Caregivers might prey on someone’s sympathies or threaten to decrease the support they provide if an older adult does not add them as a beneficiary of their estate or give them access to certain resources.
When family members notice signs of nursing home abuse, they may need to take prompt action to protect their vulnerable loved one. A lawsuit may lead to compensation for the harm caused to a nursing home resident and may eventually lead to an improved standard of care at the facility as well.