Senior citizens in nursing homes should be able to relax and know that they are in good hands. Unfortunately, this is not always the case and the nursing home staff may abuse your loved one.
It can be hard to determine the exact number of elder abuse cases each year because many cases go unreported. However, about five million elders receive some form of abuse each year at nursing homes.
How many types of elder abuse are there?
There are a few types of elder abuse. Some might be obvious and easily spotted, while others may not be noticeable at first. Generally, these actions are considered elder abuse:
- Physical assault: This occurs when the nursing home staff or another resident is physically hurting your family member.
- Neglect: This can include anything from failing to give your loved one their medicine, food or other basic requirements.
- False imprisonment: When the nursing home staff does not allow the elder to leave a specific area, it is considered false imprisonment.
- Financial abuse: One of the nursing home staff members could steal personal property or information to access the resident’s bank account.
What are the signs of nursing home abuse?
The warning signs of elder abuse vary based on the type of assault that occurred. Warning signs for elder abuse include:
- Physical assault: If you notice any bruises, cuts or marks that your loved one did not have previously, abuse might be happening.
- Neglect and false imprisonment: Your family member might be looking disheveled or they may be looking skinner than usual.
- Financial abuse: This type of abuse may be harder to determine on your own. Unless some drastic changes happen to their finances, it could be hard to notice any exploitation. Being involved with your family member’s finances could help minimize the chances of this happening.
If you suspect that elder abuse is happening to your loved one, you could seek the services of an attorney to help you. They will be able to help identify any signs of abuse and provide guidance on the next steps to take.
