When an elderly individual lives in a nursing home or long-term care facility, their family trusts the staff and administration to care for them. Unfortunately, some nursing home staff members and institutions are negligent or abusive in a number of ways. If you or a loved one has been the victim of nursing home abuse or neglect, you may be wondering about the steps involved in nursing home abuse reporting.
No matter where you live, it is critical to report instances of nursing home neglect and abuse. Residents should be able to receive reliable and high-quality care, and when they are mistreated at the hands of staff or administration, they deserve justice. Fortunately, victims and their families have legal recourse to hold negligent and malicious parties accountable.
You should not bear the costs and burdens that result from instances of nursing home abuse. Contact a skilled legal professional to file a claim for damages in your nursing home abuse case. A knowledgeable tort lawyer will review the circumstances of your case and help you hold the at-fault parties responsible. When you have questions about nursing home abuse reporting, contact America’s largest personal injury law firm, Morgan & Morgan.
Our legal team will happily provide you with a no-cost and no-obligation case evaluation. To arrange your initial free meeting, fill out the contact form on our website today.
Typical Signs of Nursing Home Abuse
Almost two million U.S. residents live in nursing homes or long-term care facilities. Authorities have enacted national regulations to protect residents of these facilities from abuse and neglect.
The elderly are particularly vulnerable to many types of mistreatment. For this reason, families and loved ones should be aware of the common signs of abuse or neglect.
Knowing the signs of nursing home mistreatment can help you protect those you love and keep them safe. Elderly abuse can take many different forms, both intentional and unintentional.
Some of the most common types of abuse include:
Physical Abuse
If a staff member of a care facility intentionally caused harm to a resident, physical abuse has occurred. Some of the most common examples of physical abuse include:
- Pushing
- Hitting
- Kicking
- Slapping
This type of nursing home abuse is particularly dangerous. If you believe that your loved one is experiencing physical harm at the hands of a staff member, it is important to explore options for nursing home abuse reporting.
Emotional Abuse
Any behavior that damages a resident’s mental and psychological well-being can be classified as emotional abuse. Some typical examples of emotional abuse include:
- Yelling
- Insulting
- Taunting
- Humiliation
- Terrorizing or threatening
- Ignoring
Because this type of abuse does not leave physical evidence, it can be hard to detect. Additionally, residents may be afraid or embarrassed to report this type of behavior.
If a resident fears retaliation from their abuser, they may not speak about the abuse that they are experiencing.
Sexual Abuse
Nursing home residents and those in long-term care facilities sometimes experience abuse of a sexual nature. Any type of unwanted or non-consensual sexual activity or contact qualifies as abuse.
Much like emotional mistreatment, sexual abuse in nursing homes often goes unreported. If a victim has a mental illness or advanced dementia, they may be unable to report this type of abuse to their loved ones or others.
Common signs of sexual abuse include:
- Bruising or bleeding around the breasts or genitals
- Sexually transmitted infections
- Unexplained bruising
- Fear of a particular staff member
If you believe that your loved one has been the victim of sexual assault, it is crucial to seek out nursing home abuse reporting options. You should also contact a skilled tort attorney to pursue damages for the harm that your loved one suffered.
Financial Exploitation
When a nursing home staff member illegally misuses or takes the assets or money of a resident, they are financially exploiting that person. Those with cognitive decline or dementia are especially vulnerable to financial abuse.
Unfortunately, this type of mistreatment can affect the victim and their family. It is important to reach out to a skilled attorney if you believe that your loved one is facing any type of abuse.
Nursing home abuse reporting can be complex. When you have a legal representative to help you, you can pursue the financial compensation that you are rightfully owed.