It is estimated that 10% of elderly people areabused or neglectedAt some point in your life. In a New York study, 1 in 13 older adults was a victim of abuse in the previous year. While there are many types of abuse, the types most commonly reported in the study were verbal abuse, financial abuse and physical abuse.
Nursing home abuse occurs when caregivers and staff abuse or neglect residents. After nursing home abuse, loved ones may notice signs that they may have been abused. If your loved one is the victim of abuse, there arelegal ways to protect themof more damage.
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What is nursing home abuse?
Nursing home abuse and neglect occurs when nursing home caregivers cause harm to residents. This can happenintentionally or by negligence. As a result of this nursing home abuse, the victim may experience physical or emotional trauma.
Physical abuse in nursing homes can take many forms.You may notice cuts, burns, pinch points, scratches, pinch points, pinches, or string points.If you see any marks on the person's neck, face, or head, they may be experiencing abuse.
When someone is grabbed or shaken, it can end up with bruises on the arms, wrists and legs caused by the assailant's fingers and thumbs. As abuse tends to be repetitive, you may continue to notice old bruises in the same area.
The person may also show traces of limitations. If restraints are used, they must be done correctly as directed by a physician or for patient safety.
Sometimes injuries lead to a medical emergency. Financial abuse can completely ruin an individual's finances. In the worst case, the victim can die from mistreatment or lack of care.
Unfortunately, abuse can occur in a nursing home as the residents are more vulnerable and vulnerable to these attacks. Many residents have physical and cognitive issues such as Alzheimer's or dementia that often prevent them from understanding or defending against abuse. If the patient is overmedicated, there is also an increased risk of abuse.
according to studiesabout half of the peoplewith dementia experience some form of neglect or abuse. Inadequate employee training, understaffing and employee burnout lead to abuse and neglect in this industry. When employees are frustrated or burned out, they may take out their anger on the people they are supposed to guide and protect.
The level of care varies by nursing home, employee experience, and management. fortunately there isNursing home abuse laws to protect residents. By identifying and reporting abuse, you can protect your loved ones and prevent future residents from experiencing the same trauma.
How to recognize abuse in a nursing home
If your loved one is experiencing abuse in a nursing home, there arecommon charactersYou can see it. Abuse can be physical or emotional, so attention should be paid to both the behavior and the physical condition of the older person. If you notice any of the following signs of abuse or neglect, you should call a lawyer and report the abuse to your local authorities.
Signs of emotional abuse
When someone is emotionally abused, they may experience excitement, anxiety, depression, or sadness. they can shinedisoriented or confused, although there is no medical reason for this. The person may become withdrawn, experience unexplained sleep disturbances or changes in eating, and stop participating in previously loved hobbies.
If you try to talk to the patient, he may not tell you the truth or he may be afraid to talk openly about his problems. The caregiver may even prevent you from talking to the person alone for fear of being found out. In addition, the patient appears to be afraid of being alone with certain attachment figures.
signs of physical abuse
Physical abuse in nursing homes can take many forms.You may notice cuts, burns, pinch points, scratches, pinch points, pinches, or string points.If you see any marks on the person's neck, face, or head, they may be experiencing abuse.
When someone is grabbed or shaken, it can end up with bruises on the arms, wrists and legs caused by the assailant's fingers and thumbs. As abuse tends to be repetitive, you may continue to notice old bruises in the same area.
The person may also show traces of limitations. If restraints are used, they must be done correctly as directed by a physician or for patient safety.
You may notice physical signs of abuse, such as broken bones, dislocations, and fractures. If the person was sexually abused, you may notice bruising and/or bleeding in the genital area. They may also develop inflammation or an STD for no apparent reason.
Sometimes the abuser gives patients an overdose to keep them compliant. When this happens, the person may stare blankly or become very sleepy. They may suffer from drowsiness, limited mobility and uncontrollable drooling.
signs of abandonment
Abuse does not have to be active or intentional to cause harm. Negligence can also have devastating consequences. For example, residents can often fall if proper preventive measures are not taken.
Patients may also show signs such as bedsores, dirty hair, poor hygiene, dirty nails, dirty clothes and dirty teeth. They may even smell like urine or feces. If the person is in unsafe living conditions, the resident may be walking alone or may not have hot water.
Negligence can includeUnattended patients in unsafe areas or outdoors. The patient may suffer from malnutrition, loss of dentures, unexplained weight loss, lack of glasses, dehydration or lack of hearing aids. When you visit your living room, the space can be cluttered or dirty.
Common types of abuse in nursing homes
mistreatment
Physical abuse in the nursing homeusually associated with injuriessuch as broken bones, cuts and bruises. Although people often injure themselves, physical abuse can usually be detected when the explanation does not match the nature of the injury. Repeated injuries are also a concern.
When an employee intentionally causes physical harm, he or she causes physical abuse. This type of abuse may include kicking, hitting, or pushing the resident. Improper patient restraint can also cause bodily harm.
emotional abuse
Emotional abuse occurs when the caregiver tries toharm the patient's mental well-being or self-esteem. You can yell at the resident, knock him down, or manipulate him. Sometimes the staff member deliberately isolates the resident from family and friends.
Although you may not be able to physically see the abuse, it can still be harmful to the resident. You may feel stressed, anxious or anxious all the time. Finally, these negative emotions can also fuel depression and other mental disorders.
sexual abuse
Unfortunately, sexual abuse can also occur in nursing homes. As a result, residents can feel traumatized. You could also suffer physical injuries.
While the sex offender could be a staff member, it could also be another resident. Other types of neglect can make sexual abuse more common. If staff fail to properly care for residents, a resident may sexually abuse other residents.
negligence
Abuse and neglect in nursing homes can occur simultaneously. In some cases, employees mayleave residents unattended, which could cause injury.
If the elderly person does not rotate often enough, they can develop pressure sores. Likewise, infections and malnutrition can also result from neglect.
financial abuse
Nursing home abuse can lead to financial abuse. For example, employees might try to do thisSteal money from resident's bank account.
Financial abuse can include things like fraud or outright theft. The person can steal the money right away, use the older person's debit card, or forge their signature on checks. Once the money is spent, it can be difficult to get it back without the help of a lawyer.
health fraud
Sometimes abuse is not caused by caregivers and staff. Every year, nursing homes and other long-term care facilities have problemshealth fraud. This type of scam can include things likeKickbacks, double billing and ghost patient billing.
Health care fraud can also occur when managed care plans fraudulently recruit or enroll patients. Whenever the nursing home charges for goods and services that were not provided, it is guilty of fraud. Also, the nursing home should never charge for unnecessary goods and services, goods and services not covered, or procedures that cost more than the actual procedure.
Abuse prevention in nursing home
While it can be difficult to completely prevent abuse in nursing homes, there are some steps people can take to protect their loved ones.
- Research nursing home facilities before choosing one so you can read testimonials from past clients.
- Make sure your loved one remains actively involved in their local community, making friends and spending time with them.
- Keep in touch with caregivers regularly.
- Be aware of people who may be more vulnerable to financial abuse because of their reputation or wealth.
- Make sure your loved one is active by helping them exercise and walk.
Nursing Home Abuse Statistics: Is Nursing Home Abuse Widespread?
Sadly, abuse and neglect in nursing homes is a surprisingly common problem in the United States.
- One study reported that up to24.3% two residentsare subjected to physical abuse while in a nursing home.
- According to the World Health Organization (WHO)two out of three employeesin nursing homes and long-term care facilities reported patient abuse in the past year.
- Only in the same WHO study15.7% of the elderlyreported as abused. This shows not only the prevalence of this problem, but also a significant problem with underreporting of victims.
- Onehalf of people with dementiasuffered abuse or neglect.
- 47% of Alzheimer's patients suffer from it.any form of abuse.
- Experts just predict1 out of 24 casesElder abuse is reported to the authorities.
What to do if you suspect nursing home abuse
If youSuspected nursing home abuse, you need to find out where to report elder abuse. It shouldAvoid immediate harm by calling 911or move your loved one to a new facility if necessary. Depending on the situation, you may want to talk to your loved one or the nursing home administration about your concerns.
Across the country, each state has a designated agency that is available as part of Adult Protective Services (APS). If you think your loved one is a victim of nursing home abuse, please do so.Find location in your stateand contact them. In most areas, you can file a claim with the APS or your local Long-Term Care Ombudsman.
It shoulddocument everything, write down what happens and keep reports on each contact. If the nursing home doesn't improve the situation, you may also need to talk to a lawyer about your legal options. You can get compensation for your loved one's suffering.
Who is investigating abuse in a nursing home?
If nursing home abuse is reported, various agencies will conduct their own investigations into the complaint. Adult Protective Services will closely assess the situation to determine what action should be taken against the defendant and the nursing home. Typically, an ombudsman will help the victim gather the necessary details for their case.
If the defendant is a nurse or doctor, there are professional licensing committees that decide whether to revoke the person's license.
If the case involves financial abuse in nursing homes, there are certain Medicaid fraud teams that are part of the Office of the Attorney General and are conducting an investigation.
Nursing home abuse laws
Seniors are protected from a patchwork of federal, state and local abuse in nursing homes. These laws cover everything from reporting elder abuse to penalties for committing abuse.
For example, the four main national laws are:
- Das Elder Justice Act
- Older Americans Act
- The law against violence against women
- The fearless law.
HeElderly Justice Actcreated the Elder Justice Coordinating Council and requires all nursing home staff to do soreport any incidents of suspected abuse.
Adopted in 1965, theOlder Americans Actdefines elder abuse and funds federal awareness programs. meanwhile theLaw Against Violence against Womenoffers victim services for women and specialist services for women age 50 and older. finally, theact without fearwas created to protect whistleblowers who have reported elder abuse.
There are also state laws and local regulations that protect people from abuse in nursing homes. For example,Criminal Code 368 CPcalifornia lawdefine what is elder abuseand penalties for elder abuse.
Navigating all these laws and reporting requirements can be difficult. If you need help, a trusted nursing home abuse attorney can support you throughout the process. With help, your loved one can get the justice they deserve.
Hire the best lawyers to fight abuse in nursing homes
Do you think your loved one might be abused in a nursing home? A nursing home abuse attorney can help you determine the best steps to take in your case. Ask for help with your possible abuse caseBermann & Riedel, LLPToday at(858) 350-8855!