Signs Your Loved One May be Abused at Their Nursing Home

You choose the best facility you can and hope for the best. Your parent may have needed to start nursing home care unexpectedly after an accident or due to a medical condition. You thought the staff was trustworthy, but that trust may have been misplaced. It appears your parent’s been abused, and you want answers.

Satterley & Kelley, PLLC represents individuals abused and neglected at Kentucky nursing homes and their families. We know the indications of abuse and the evidence needed to show whether the cause was intentional abuse or something else. If your parent or loved one is suffering at their nursing home, contact us so we can get to the bottom of what’s going on.

The Damage Done by Elder Abuse

Everyone, no matter their age, physical or mental limitations, deserves respect and to be safe from harm. That’s not the reality far too often. Over time, elder abuse may:

• Harm an individual physically and psychologically
• Destroy social and family ties
• Cause devastating financial losses

Research, according to the American Psychological Association, suggests that abused older people tend to die earlier than those who have not suffered abuse, even when they don’t have any chronic conditions or life-threatening diseases. The sad and scary truth is human predators are seeking vulnerable people to victimize.

What Types of Abuse Are There?

There is no single pattern of elder abuse. It’s a complex problem that can vary depending on the nursing home, its management, the abuser, and the victim. The abuser seeks a person who will fulfill their twisted need to hurt others in a place where they believe they’ll get away with it.

Elder abuse can take many different forms, including:

• Physical abuse: This may involve slapping, punching, shoving, burning, biting, tripping, inappropriate use of medications, and physical restraints. If enough force causes unnecessary pain or injury, even if it’s done by mistake or in the belief it’ll help the older person, it can be considered abusive
• Verbal, emotional, or psychological abuse: This can involve yelling, swearing, threatening, insulting or disrespectful comments or repeatedly ignoring the older adult. It can include treating the person like a child and isolating them from friends, family, and regular activities. It’s a coercive or threatening behavior that puts the abuser in a position of power over the older adult
• Sexual abuse: This includes inappropriate touching or photography, forcing the person to view pornography and unwanted sexual behavior
• Financial abuse and exploitation: This ranges from misuse of someone’s funds to embezzlement. The victims are often mentally incompetent and easily manipulated or extorted into agreeing to do things like hand over money or sign documents. This includes check forgery, taking control of their retirement or Social Security income, or using their credit cards and bank accounts without permission. It may also be changing beneficiaries of a will or life insurance policy. It could also be changing names on a title to a house
• Caregiver neglect: This includes intentionally failing to meet the older person’s physical, social, or emotional needs. Neglect is the failure to provide food, water, medication, clothing, and assistance with daily living or personal hygiene

Often, the elderly and those with disabilities suffer multiple types of abuse at the same time.

What are the Signs of Elder Abuse?

While some of these symptoms may be caused by age, disease, or medications, their appearance should alert you to the need to investigate, determine, and address the cause. Indications of abuse include the following:

• Unexplained burns, bruises, cuts, or scars
• Lack of adequate food and water, basic hygiene, or clean and appropriate clothes
• Lack of medical aids (walker, glasses, dentures, teeth, hearing aid, medications)
• Sunken eyes
• Unexplained weight loss
• Bedsores
• Dismissive attitude by staff or statements minimizing injuries
• The person is unreasonably fearful or suspicious
• Self-isolation or refusal to communicate
• Depression or anxiety
• Unexplained or unusual behavior changes
• Vaginal infections or anal bleeding
• Venereal diseases
• Signs of insufficient care
• Unpaid bills despite adequate money to pay them
• Large withdrawals from bank accounts
• Unusual ATM activity

Family members should know their loved ones well enough to know something is wrong. Your parent may be afraid to speak out about what’s happening or blame themselves for what’s going on. You may need to get your parent out of the building before they feel safe enough to talk.

Speak To a Nursing Home Abuse Attorney Today

Our attorneys will fight for your loved one to obtain respectful care, compensation for injuries, and accountability for those responsible for the abuse. To set up a free initial consultation with an experienced lawyer at our firm, call our Louisville office at 502-589-5600 (toll-free at 855-385-9532) or contact us online.