Getting older comes with several disadvantages, one of the most significant ones being the potential to lose the ability to take care of oneself. For this and many other reasons, nursing homes and assisted living communities are available for elders to live comfortably and for loved ones to feel secure knowing their family is taken care of.
While it’s difficult to believe that anyone would abuse the elderly, it happens more often than it should. About one in six adults over the age of 60 has experienced some form of abuse in the last year, and two in three staff members at care facilities have committed abuse in the past year.
Whether you suspect or know your loved one has been the victim of nursing home abuse, you need an elder abuse law firm. The legal team at Commonwealth Law Group is ready to provide quality legal guidance.
Understanding Nursing Home Abuse
Nursing home abuse occurs when nursing home staff intentionally or unintentionally harm elder residents. In many cases, intentional harm is called elder abuse, while unintentional harm is referred to as elder neglect.
Whether staff members intentionally or unintentionally cause their patients harm, the result is usually the same: elder victims suffering from injuries or medical conditions, including physical, mental, or emotional trauma.
Different Types of Nursing Home Abuse
“Nursing home abuse” is an umbrella term, as abuse of the elderly comes in several different forms. The elderly may be the victim of one form of abuse or a combination of multiple types of abuse.
Physical Abuse
Physical abuse results in physical harm to elder victims. Staff members can physically abuse elders by:
- Hitting
- Pushing
- Physically restraining
Physical abuse usually results in bodily harm, including lacerations, broken bones, and bleeding. Because many older individuals’ bodies don’t heal like they once did, physical abuse can take a significant toll on a victim’s body, often resulting in extensive recovery times or life-changing consequences.
Emotional Abuse
Emotional abuse, also referred to as psychological abuse, occurs when a staff member verbally abuses the victim. Emotional abuse usually occurs by:
- Threatening
- Insulting
- Isolating victims from others
- Controlling behavior
- Manipulation
Emotional abuse is particularly common, as many staff members feel they can get away with it. Because this type of abuse does not leave any physical evidence, it’s more difficult to notice.
Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse refers to non-consensual sexual encounters between elder victims and nursing home staff. As in many cases, victims of elder sexual abuse are incapacitated to some degree. This type of abuse is common for staff members who like to assert power or dominance over their victims.
Sexual abuse also does not always necessarily mean just physical touching, as it can also include forcing victims to undress or watch pornography.
Financial Abuse
Nursing home staff may view some elders as easy targets, especially if they do not have actively involved family members or friends.
Some elders may mistakenly put their trust in nursing home staff, giving them access to their financial information. Staff members may also talk their victims into changing their estate plans to include them.
Signs of Nursing Home Abuse
When a loved one is in a long-term care facility or nursing home, it’s important to regularly check up on them and look out for signs of nursing home abuse, as it can happen to anyone.
The physical signs that may indicate nursing home abuse include:
- Bruises
- Cuts
- Fractured or broken bones
- Bedsores
- Unexplained weight loss
- Dehydration
- Signs of poor hygiene
- Sexually transmitted diseases
- Signs of physical restraint
Victims can also exhibit emotional signs, including:
- Withdrawal
- Mood swings
- Strange behavior
- Noticeable distress
- Fearfulness
Other signs of potential nursing home abuse can include the staff not allowing anyone to visit the elderly resident or never leaving the resident alone when they have company.
If you think your loved one is experiencing nursing home abuse, take action. Nursing home attorneys can help you.
Liability for Nursing Home Abuse
Elder abuse in long-term care facilities happens for many reasons, including understaffing and stressed or overworked staff. Nursing home abuse can also happen when the facility negligently hires certain staff members.
Typically, the staff member that committed the abuse is held liable, along with the facility that employs them.
Elder abuse attorneys thoroughly investigate claims of abuse to determine the cause of the victim’s injuries. If a staff member is found to be at fault for the elder victim’s harm, nursing home neglect lawyers aim to pursue justice and compensation for the victim and their loved ones.
Nursing Home Abuse: Frequently Asked Questions
Discuss Your Case with an Experienced Richmond, VA, Nursing Home Abuse Attorney
The legal team at Commonwealth Law Group is passionate about providing injured clients with legal guidance, particularly those who have experienced elder abuse.
Learning your loved one has suffered elder abuse is heartbreaking. Therefore, you can rely on us to approach your case with compassion while also fighting aggressively to hold responsible parties accountable for their wrongful actions.
Contact our firm today to schedule a consultation with one of our skilled nursing home abuse lawyers.
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If you have been injured at work or through the negligence of another individual or entity, contact us at (804) 999-9999 or or use the form below to connect with our legal team. We will fight to get you the justice you deserve.