What to Do When You Suspect or Uncover Nursing Home Abuse

If you have a family member who resides in a nursing home, you want your loved one to be provided with safe, high-quality care. You also want the nursing home staff to treat your loved one with respect, compassion, and dignity.

Unfortunately, not all nursing home staff treat residents with this type of care. Nursing home abuse is a prevalent problem in the United States. The latest statistics show that about 30% of seniors living in a nursing home experience abuse.

If you have a loved one in a nursing home you want to be on the lookout if there is something that seems off. If you suspect that there is nursing home abuse or neglect here is what you need to do.

Recognize the Signs of Nursing Home Abuse

You want to make sure that you are familiar with the warning signs of abuse and neglect as these will help you build a case against the nursing home and its staff. First, you should know that abuse can take different forms such as physical and mental abuse. Each of these types of abuse has certain signs you should be on the lookout for.

Physical abuse signs that should call your attention include cuts, burns, sores, broken bones, and bruises. The signs of physical abuse may not always be visible as they are under the clothes. If you believe that a loved one is the victim of physical abuse, take the time to examine your loved one for these signs.

The signs of emotional abuse include fear, anxiety, and changes in behavior or sleep. Depression is another sign of emotional abuse. This type of abuse is often the result of insults or threats.

Signs of neglect include malnutrition, dehydration, and bed injuries such as sores. Weight loss is another major sign of neglect.

If any of these signs are present, you will need to document them. Make sure to keep track of the signs by noting the location of the sign if it’s due to physical abuse, as well as document the time and date when you first saw the sign of abuse. Make sure to take multiple pictures of the area of the body where the signs of physical abuse are present.

Report an Emergency

If the abuse has led to a severe injury, call 911 so your loved one can receive treatment. This needs to be done as soon as possible to protect your family member’s health.

If it’s a significant injury, the police will need to create an incident report. You will need a copy of the incident report.

Gather Evidence

If your loved one did not suffer any serious injuries, you will need to still remove him or her from the nursing home to prevent further abuse.

Finding out that your loved one is the victim of nursing home abuse or neglect is not easy. After finding out this news, you need to remain rational. Don’t lose your temper as you need to remain calm and take further action.

Make sure you question the nursing home staff and management about the signs of abuse. You need to be willing to hear these persons out. After speaking with them, speak with your loved one about the situation. Ideally, you should speak with your loved one privately as your loved one may not want to speak in front of the staff.

Again, make sure you take notes and any necessary pictures as you should document all statements. Store the information in a secure place.

Report the Abuse

Don’t hesitate to report the abuse or neglect. Even if there are no serious injuries, you still need to file a report. The nursing home needs to have information about the grievance procedure for complaints that you can find on-site.

In this information, you will find the numbers of the state agency that you can contact to file a report of abuse. You need to report nursing home abuse as soon as possible.

Consult with a Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

One of the most important actions you can take if your loved one is the victim of abuse or neglect is to contact a nursing home abuse lawyer. This type of lawyer will explain the rights your loved one has and help to initiate a lawsuit on your loved one’s behalf to recover compensation.

If your loved one has suffered damages such as pain, emotional distress, and suffering, he or she may be entailed to compensation under the law. It can go towards the hospital bills and other expenses to help your loved one recover.

A nursing home abuse lawyer will make sure your loved one’s case doesn’t go unheard. Furthermore, a nursing home abuse lawyer will make sure to hold the parties liable for harm.

Know How to Respond to Abuse and Neglect

One expects for nursing home staff to treat family members with care. No one wants their family member to undergo abuse or neglect. This is why it is important for you to be familiar with the warning signs that signal that abuse is taking place.

You will need to take the appropriate steps if you suspect that your loved one is the victim of nursing home abuse or neglect. After you have documented statements and pictures and made a report, contact a nursing home abuse lawyer to take the case.

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