Elderly people are especially vulnerable to abuse and neglect. If you are looking for a suitable residence for a parent, grandparent, or other elderly person in your care, you will want to avoid any facility where residents experience neglect or abuse. Furthermore, if your loved one resides in a nursing home and you are suddenly seeing changes in his or her behavior or personality, it may be time to take a closer look at the treatment they are receiving and make sure if they are being a victim to nursing home neglect and abuse.
Red Flags of Emotional Abuse
Emotional abuse can cause unusual behavior that may be mistaken for dementia or mental deterioration. Even though these conditions can overlap signs of abuse, every suspicious incident should be investigated. If you suspect that your loved one is suffering neglect or abuse at the hands of his or her caregivers, it is time to discuss your legal options with someone from our team of experienced and knowledgeable Naperville injury lawyers.
Self-soothing behaviors such as mumbling, rocking, and thumb sucking, or dramatic changes in personality, should make you suspect possible abuse. If a particular staff member is responsible for abusing your loved one, you may notice tension, avoidance, and fear when that person is interacting with them, or even when they walk into the room. It is unlikely that an elderly person will speak up about what is being done to them, as they have probably been threatened with further harm if they tell anyone.
Signs of Physical Abuse
Unexplained dislocations, sprains, scars, welts, or bruising are all signs of possible physical abuse. Seemingly unrelated incidents may also indicate physical abuse, such as broken eyeglasses, ripped clothing, or if a caregiver is reluctant to leave you alone with your loved one.
Physical abuse in a nursing home may also take the form of sexual abuse. Indications of sexual abuse include unexplained STDs, genital or urinary tract infections, or bruising around the genitals or breasts.
Indications of Neglect
Neglect can quickly escalate to abuse if the basic needs of a nursing home resident are not being met. For instance, if the caregiver is neglecting to bathe your loved one, and not keeping them clean, it may result in bedsores and skin infections. Unusual weight loss and dehydration may be the result of the staff neglecting to provide proper nutrition. Signs of neglect may include soiled clothing or bed linens, bed sores, weight loss, and overall poor health.
Shea Law Group
At Shea Law Group, we have handled countless nursing home abuse cases and we have the expertise necessary to help you and your family.
