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Detecting and Dealing with Nursing Home Abuse

Jul 6, 2012 |

Placing a family member or loved one in a nursing home can be a tough but necessary decision. There is a large level of trust and responsibility transferred from the family to the nursing home. Sadly at times that level of trust and responsibility is broken due to nursing home abuse. Nursing home abuse can be in multiple forms including physical, emotional, sexual, and neglect.

When visiting a loved one it is important to make sure they are receiving the care they deserve. Physical abuse is typically the easiest to notice due to bruising and other visible injuries. However some forms of abuse such as emotional and sexual abuse are much more difficult to observe. Another form of abuse is neglect. Neglect can be intentional or unintentional, but they are both still a breach of trust and responsibility. Some warning signs for neglect are poor hygiene, soiled sheets, lack of bathing and dirty undergarments. Regularly checking up on your loved one is extremely important to make sure they are being cared for properly.

In the case of potential signs of abuse or neglect it is important to document as much information as possible with photographs and notes. Use photographs to record suspicious bruises or marks on the body. Other valuable pieces of information to track include time, dates, rooms and the names of any staff members treating your loved one.

If you fear that your loved one is being abused or neglected bring your evidence to the nursing home management team. In addition, the evidence should be presented to the state agency responsible for licensing and certifying nursing homes.

These are all important steps, but to make sure your loved one is being treated with the appropriate care they need and deserve please contact us – we have extensive experience in representing nursing home abuse cases.