How To Spot the Warning Signs of Nursing Home Abuse
Knowing how to spot warning signs of nursing home abuse can help you proactively protect loved ones living in assisted living or skilled care facilities. If you’re concerned that your family member is being abused in care, the elder abuse attorneys at Cutter Law can help. We have extensive experience handling nursing home abuse cases in California and will work with you to protect your loved one from harm.
Placing a loved one into a nursing home, assisted living center, or skilled care facility is often a difficult decision. The uncertainty surrounding nursing home placement can be compounded by the fear that your loved one may suffer abuse or neglect while in care.
Nursing home abuse is tragically common and often goes unreported by victims, who may be unwilling or unable to speak up about the abuse they’ve experienced. Understanding how to spot warning signs of nursing home abuse early can help protect vulnerable loved ones residing in assisted living facilities.
If you’re concerned that your loved one has been abused in their current living placement, you’re not alone. The experienced attorneys at Cutter Law can help you report elder abuse and pursue compensation for the harm your family member has experienced.
What Are Common Types of Nursing Home Abuse?
Many people associate the concept of nursing home abuse specifically with physical harm. However, abuse in assisted living environments can take many forms, all of which can be highly dangerous to vulnerable and elderly residents. Types of nursing home abuse to look out for when visiting your loved one include:
- Physical abuse
- Emotional or psychological abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Financial exploitation
- Neglect, whether passive or intentional
- Wrongful death resulting from neglect or abuse
Every type of elder abuse has the potential to cause serious damage to your loved one, hurting their physical health, their mental well-being, and their ability to financially cover their own needs. Paying careful attention to warning signs of possible abuse and neglect can help protect your family member from further harm while living in an assisted living facility. A nursing home abuse lawyer can work with you to keep your relative safe and seek compensation for the hardship they suffered in care.
Physical Warning Signs of Abuse or Neglect To Watch Out For
Physical abuse is many families’ worst fear when choosing an assisted living facility and placing a family member in care. There are a few key physical warning signs that may indicate that your loved one is being abused or neglected in a nursing home environment. These include:
- Unexplained bruises, cuts, or burns
- Frequent falls or fractures
- Poor hygiene or bedsores
- Signs of dehydration or malnutrition
Physical abuse and neglect aren’t mutually exclusive and often overlap. If you notice sudden injuries on your loved one or signs that they may not be being adequately cared for, it’s important to thoroughly investigate their situation to determine whether they’re safe and how extensive the harm they’re experiencing may be.
Behavioral and Emotional Red Flags
Your loved one’s physical well-being isn’t the only health concern you should keep an eye on while they’re living in a nursing home or assisted living facility. Behavioral and emotional red flags can be indicators of many types of abuse, including physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. These warning signs can include:
- Withdrawal, anxiety, or fear of certain staff
- Unusual aggression or silence
- Depression or sudden emotional changes
- Refusal to speak when others are around
Victims often feel too afraid or ashamed to report abuse, which can prevent them from speaking openly about their experiences. Many nursing home residents are also unable to adequately speak up about abuse due to conditions such as dementia, aphasia, mutism, and other factors that can impact a person’s ability to articulate ideas. Emotional and behavioral changes can be the only visible indication of ongoing abuse if your loved one is unable or unwilling to speak up.
Signs of Financial Exploitation
In addition to other forms of abuse, financial exploitation and nursing home fraud are unfortunately common among nursing home residents. Caregivers, other residents, and other parties may take advantage of an elderly or disabled person’s trust, confusion, or other vulnerabilities to gain illicit control over their finances for personal gain. Signs that your loved one may be being financially exploited include:
- Missing money or unusual charges
- Sudden changes in wills or legal documents
- New accounts taken out in your loved one’s name
- Unexplained ATM activity or financial control by staff
Financial abuse is often harder to catch than physical abuse, emotional abuse, or neglect, because it requires close monitoring of your loved one’s financial accounts. However, financial exploitation can be just as harmful as other forms of abuse, particularly because it can impact your loved one’s ability to pay for continued care and treatment. Working with your family member to observe how their money is being spent can be a critical part of protecting them from theft and manipulation in assisted living.
What To Do if You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse
Discovering that your loved one may be experiencing abuse or neglect in a nursing home is a frightening, stressful experience. It’s important to stay calm and take proactive steps to keep your family members safe from further harm. These include:
Document signs of abuse, such as photos, written notes, and times and dates of incidents.
Speak with facility staff or supervisors about your concerns.
File a complaint with the California Department of Public Health or Adult Protective Services.
Contact a nursing home abuse lawyer.
Our attorneys will work with you to fully investigate your loved one’s experiences and protect them from further harm in their living environment. We can guide you through the legal process of reporting elder abuse and filing a lawsuit.
Worried a Loved One Is Being Mistreated in a Nursing Home? We're Ready To Help
The experienced lawyers at Cutter Law know how to handle elder abuse and nursing home negligence cases with sensitivity, care, and compassion. Our sharp attention to detail and extensive record of holding negligent facilities accountable for abuse and neglect make us the attorneys to call if you’re concerned about your loved one’s treatment in care. Our client testimonials attest to our diligent representation of victims of nursing home abuse and our ability to secure significant case results for families.
We’re a family-owned, California-based, and client-focused firm, and we’re ready to help you help your family member. We work exclusively on contingency, which means you’ll never pay us anything unless we win your case. With offices in Sacramento, Oakland, and Santa Rosa, we’re available to assist clients throughout Northern California. Call 916-290-9400 or contact us online today for a free consultation. Ofrecemos servicios en español.