This holiday season is a time to come together with your loved ones, especially your elderly family members who reside in a nursing home. This upcoming holiday season is also an opportunity for you to check-in with your loved one and look out for any signs of nursing home abuse or neglect. Research from the National Center on Elder Abuse discovered that elder abuse affects ten percent of all elderly adults living in community settings like nursing homes. Our Louisville nursing home abuse attorneys explain how to spot signs of nursing home abuse this holiday season.
Signs of Nursing Home Abuse
Elder abuse can occur in a variety of ways, including physically, verbally, psychologically, and even sexually. Some elders are also neglected by nursing home personal and also experienced financial exploitation. For such reasons, it is vital to look out for warning signs of abuse to ensure that your loved one is safe.
A great way to determine if your loved one isn’t safe in their nursing home is by analyzing their living space. You should ensure that their facility is clean and fully staffed. You should also examine the care team’s demeanor to determine whether they are demeaning or rude to your loved one. Your loved one’s personality and behavior can also reveal signs of nursing home abuse.
Signs and symptoms of nursing home abuse include the following:
- Unexplained broken bones, dislocations, or sprains
- Bruising, scars, or welts seen on their body
- Failing to take medications properly
- Signs of restraint, such as rope marks on the elder’s wrist
- The caregiver refusing to leave you alone with your loved one
- Unusual behavior including mumbling behaviors, sucking one’s thumb, or rocking behaviors.
- Unexplained STDs or other genital infections
- Bruising near the genitals or around the breasts, stained or torn underwear
- Unsafe living conditions, such as a lack of heat, faulty electrical wiring, fire hazards, or lack of running water
- Having an unusual loss of weight or dehydration
- Changes in the elderly person’s financial situation
- Not bathing the person or leaving them dirty.
If you believe that your elderly loved one is experiencing nursing home abuse, contact our Louisville nursing home abuse attorneys today at (502) 890-9954!