Warning Signs of Nursing Home Abuse You Need to Watch Out For

There are many signs of nursing home abuse that may help you know what is going on with your loved one. Knowing the signs to watch out for is essential for the safety and health of your loved one.

Nursing home neglect lawyers can even assist you if you believe your loved one is being abused, but you must do your part by documenting and gathering as much evidence as possible.

Signs of Nursing Home Abuse

If there are changes in your loved one’s personality and behavior, it is safe to assume that they are being abused. You may even notice a lot of tension between the caregiver and your loved one.

If you suspect that your loved one is a victim of nursing home abuse, there are some signs to watch out for.

Physical Abuse

Signs and symptoms of physical abuse may include:

• Having unexplained dislocations, sprains, or broken bones
• Scars, welts, or bruising are visible on the body
• Broken eyeglasses
• Signs of restraint such as rope marks on their wrist
• Failing to take medication correctly
• The caregiver refuses to allow you to be alone with your loved one

Emotional Abuse

Signs of emotional abuse of the elderly include:

• Witnessing controlling, threatening, or belittling behavior on the part of the caregiver
• Unusual behavior in your loved one can seem like dementia symptoms, such as sucking one’s thumb, rocking, or mumbling.

Sexual Abuse

Signs of sexual abuse against the elderly include:

• Unexplained STDS or other genital infections
• Anal or vaginal bleeding that is not related to a medical condition
• Bloody, torn, or stained underwear
• Bruising near the genitals or around the breasts

Neglect From a Caregiver

Neglect from the caregiver can present itself in many ways, including:

• Leaving the elderly individual alone in a public location
• Lack of heat, fire hazards, faulty electrical wiring, lack of running water, or other unsafe living conditions
• Not being appropriately dressed for the weather
• Not bathing the person or just leaving them dirty
• Living in dirty conditions or soiled bed clothing
• Having bedsores from not turning the patient frequently
• Having dehydration or an unusual loss of weight

Risk Factors for Elderly & Caregivers

Many seniors are not easy to manage because they have a lot of needs. This is especially true when the elderly person is dependent on others for their care or because they have a lot of medical issues. The actual demands versus the ability to meet them can create problems and put the elderly person at high risk for abuse.

The risk for caregivers is a bit different. While many friends, adult children, spouses, and other relatives find that caring for their loved ones can be satisfying, this is not the case for everyone.

There are also risk factors for elder abuse from the caregiver that may consist of:

• The caregiver believes that caring for the elderly person has no psychological reward
• Caregiver depression
• The caregiver is unable to cope with the stress of caring for the elderly
• Drug or alcohol abuse by the caregiver
• Not having any support from others to assist in caring for the elder

There can still be a lot of stress involved, resulting in elder abuse even if the caregiver is paid and works for a nursing home facility. Nursing home staff can be highly prone to abusing the elderly if they have a lot of jobs to take care of, do not receive proper training, or work in environments that are poor to care for the elderly.

Final Thoughts on Nursing Home Abuse

Nursing home abuse is a serious issue, and it's important to be aware of the warning signs. If you suspect that your loved one is being abused, don't hesitate to reach out for help. There are people who can support you through this difficult time.

Thank you for reading this post, and please share it with your friends and family. Together we can raise awareness about nursing home abuse and put an end to it.

Can you think of any other signs of nursing home neglect?