There are few things as heart wrenching and infuriating as seeing your elderly loved one suffer at the hands of those who are supposed to care for them. Nursing home abuse and neglect is not only a traumatizing experience for victims but for their family and friends as well.
Research has shed light on the link between high rates of mortality and elder abuse, particularly among elderly people with low to moderate psychosocial well-being—depressive symptoms and low social engagement and low social networking. Because elderly adults in nursing homes are prone to depression, and low social networking and engagement is the norm, nursing home patients are at extreme risk when it comes to abuse and neglect. If you suspect that your loved one has been abused or neglected, you should consider reaching out to an experienced Upland nursing home abuse and neglect attorney. Here at the Southern California Nursing Home Law Group, we help the victims find relief by holding the negligent party responsible for wrongdoing.
The Four Worst Types of Abuse in Nursing HomesPhysical Neglect – The neglect of a nursing home or assisted living resident is the most common type of elder abuse. Neglect appears in a variety of forms, but typically it arises due to a lack of proper care, and can appear in the form of weight loss, falls, sickness (fevers, vomiting, etc.), bed sores or decubitus ulcers, or other unexpected injuries or changes in health.
Physical Abuse — Physical abuse is a common form of nursing home abuse. It usually involves hitting, pushing, unnecessarily holding down or restraining the patient, pinching, or unnecessarily forcing the patient to do something against their will. Working in a nursing home is a difficult, high-stress job, but that does not give any caregiver the right to abuse a patient out of anger or frustration. If a patient refuses to take their medication due to dementia, stress, or confusion caused by lack of sleep, nurses and staff members must follow protocol and not overstep their authority to make a patient take his or her pills.
Sexual Abuse — There are sexual predators everywhere, even in nursing homes. Quite possibly the most disturbing, traumatic form of nursing home abuse, sexual abuse is any form of unwanted and non-consensual sexual touching, groping, grabbing, intercourse, suggestions, video/photography, or other acts. While the perpetrator may claim that the victim consented to the sexual acts or intercourse, the truth is that many nursing home patients cannot actually give consent because they are deemed mentally incapacitated, are unconscious or only semi-conscious due to the medication they are on, or otherwise suffer from dementia or cognitive impairment.
Psychological or Emotional Abuse — Emotional abuse can be the hardest to discover, as it leaves no physical marks other than potentially causing sudden weight loss or a disheveled appearance caused by depression and anxiety. Emotional abuse comes in many forms, and includes unnecessarily isolating the patient, yelling at or taunting the patient, treating the patient like a child or teasing the patient, and other forms of psychological torture such as intentionally confusing the patient or telling them lies.
Elderly patients in nursing homes have little physical power, are often disbelieved because of dementia or other cognitive issues, and often have no legal rights due to being an “incapacitated” ward. Abusers know this, which is why an elderly person makes the perfect victim. And, abusers also know that elderly victims in nursing homes are not likely to speak out against the abuse for fear of further retribution. Ironically, elders who do report abuse, before they were in a nursing home, are more likely to be placed in a nursing home, according to the Washington Post. This makes it even harder for them to speak up and be believed when the abuse continues in a nursing home. Only you can give them a voice.
Nursing Home Neglect Can Lead to Prolonged Illness, Injury, Emotional Suffering, and DeathNursing home abuse and neglect victims are in serious jeopardy of suffering physical and emotional damages that will end up being long-lasting and potentially cause an early death. Injuries range from broken arms and lacerations, to fractured hips and traumatic brain injury. Emotional injuries often involve depression, PTSD, anxiety, extreme fear, and loss of will to live. Abuse and neglect have no place in this world, especially in nursing homes where the most vulnerable members of our society reside.
An Experienced Upland Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Attorney Can Help TodayWhether you have evidence of abuse and know that it is happening for sure, or you merely suspect that something may be afoul, you need to contact an attorney immediately. The Upland nursing home abuse and neglect lawyers at the Southern California Nursing Home Law Group can help. Call us today at (866) 607-1325 today to schedule a free consultation.