Elder abuse and nursing home negligence is happening at an alarming rate. Nursing home abuse not only causes unnecessary pain and suffering to the elderly, but the families of the victim as well. The idea that nursing home abuse harms those who are most vulnerable, caused many states to enact statutes to provide additional protection to dependent adults including the elderly. The reasoning behind these statutes is to help deter abuse from occurring in the first place and to provide stiff penalties for those that abuse the elderly. For example, in California, a family may recover damages beyond economic damages, including non-economic damages such as pain and suffering that an elderly victim may have went through before dying as a result of abuse or neglect.
There are many different forms of abuse to the elderly, including emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, malnutrition, and neglect. While most people have a difficult time comprehending the concept that anyone could cause harm to a vulnerable senior, especially a professional caregiver, elderly abuse happens more frequently than you may think. Caregivers and nursing home staff may not be properly trained to provide the right care for an elderly patient, they may be overworked, underpaid, angry and impatient, and even suffer from their own mental problems. One way to think about this problem is to realize caregivers and nursing home staff are human beings and as such, some people are impatient, violent, or make mistakes. Only you expect a professional level of care and compassion when it comes to taking care of your elderly loved one and that is why you hire a caregiver or provide a nursing home solution to a family member in need.
Nursing home abuse may be difficult to detect, in fact family members may incorrectly read the signs of elderly abuse and believe this abuse is really just the signs of aging or a deteriorating medical condition. Elderly abuse victims may be afraid to even speak out about the abuse, fearing nobody will believe them or that they will be retaliated against later by the abuser or the nursing home. Victims may not even realize they are being abused at all or believe it is their own fault for being abused. Also, the nursing staff may try to cover the abuse by blaming the medical equipment, the victim, or concealing the evidence. Another potential warning sign of abuse is if the nursing staff or caregiver refuses to leave you alone with the elderly patient.
Visit nursing home abuse video for more information and pay attention to
signs of nursing home negligence:
Signs of nursing home abuse and negligence:
- Unexplained bruises, cuts, burns, sprains, or broken bones
- Bed sores, poor hygiene, dehydration, malnutrition, poor living conditions, soiled bed
- Medical conditions that are not being addressed
If you believe someone you care about is the victim of elder abuse, nursing home abuse, or nursing home neglect, please contact an experienced nursing home abuse attorney such as Dr. Bruce Fagel right away. The elderly and those adults who are dependent on the care of others require the strongest protection from neglect and abuse.