Elder abuse occurs if a nursing home or one of its employees acts negligently in taking care of a patient. A nursing home abuse lawyer can play a crucial role in helping you navigate through these troubling charges and hold them liable due to neglect. These damages may include pain and suffering, disability, disfigurement, or medical bills. A few states allow for punitive damages, but this only occurs in rare cases. Keeping a few things in mind is important for identifying nursing home abuse.
Types of Nursing Home Abuse
Each nursing home has an obligation to hire qualified personnel with the necessary academic degrees while also not having a prior record of violence or abuse. A nursing home can be held responsible for elder abuse by hiring an employee without performing a background check.
Understaffing is another common issue facing nursing homes across the country. A lack of staff members makes it much more challenging to provide adequate care for each patient, which significantly increases the chance of elderly abuse. A nursing home can be found liable for elder abuse by not hiring enough employees.
Inadequate training can also result in elder abuse in nursing homes. A lack of training can eventually lead to injury or even nursing home deaths. Nursing homes need to properly train each employee to avoid being held liable for elder abuse.
A nursing home will be held responsible for any abuse caused by third parties inside the residence. For example, a resident may be injured by a guest or another resident due to a lack of oversight. It’s the primary responsibility of the nursing home to create a safe environment for each resident.
Medication errors are a serious problem that can result in nursing home deaths. These mistakes can create liability issues for a nursing home, while a physician or pharmacist can be held liable for these mistakes if the resident is injured or dies due to these mistakes.
Common Causes of Elder Abuse
Elder abuse is an all too common problem impacting nursing homes. Understanding the most common causes of nursing home abuse is essential in recognizing these signs before it’s too late.
Physical Abuse
Physical abuse in a nursing home isn’t only limited to battery or physical contact against a patient. It can also occur through overmedication, excessive use of restraints, or force-feeding. Recognizing these signs of physical abuse is essential in getting the help your loved one needs before it’s too late.
Emotional Abuse
Emotional abuse is another common problem impacting patients in nursing homes. Mental abuse may include insults, threats, sarcastic remarks, emotional manipulation, or isolation. Signs of emotional abuse may include anxiety, depression, mood swings, or withdrawal.
Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse can also occur in a nursing home, whether it’s a resident being too ill to consent or tricked into sexual contact. This can happen with a staff member, guest, or another resident.
Financial Abuse
Financial abuse can happen if the person responsible for managing a patient’s finances chooses to misuse funds or other assets. For example, some of these funds may be used for their benefit or personal advancement. Deceiving a resident into signing a contract or will is another form of financial abuse.
Neglect
Neglect happens anytime a nurse doesn’t provide adequate care for a patient. A few of the most common types of nursing home neglect include failure to help with personal hygiene, not providing appropriate clothing or shelter, lack of food, or inadequate medical treatment.
Warning Signs of Elderly Abuse
Gathering the necessary evidence for elder abuse is essential for a nursing home abuse lawyer. Sometimes a nursing home will dismiss signs of abuse by blaming it on dementia or old age. However, loved ones need to recognize the various signs of mistreatment.
Here are a few of the most common signs of elder abuse in nursing homes.
- Emotional Withdrawal
- Dehydration or Malnutrition
- Bedsores
- Bleeding or Bruising
- Physical Problems
- Financial Issues
- Changes in Will or Power of Attorney
- Unpaid Bills
Many times a nursing home resident will feel ashamed or too disgusted to tell anyone about these difficulties. Family members need to keep a close watch on their loved ones to recognize any signs of elderly abuse. Reaching out to a nursing home abuse attorney is important in helping you receive the help you need.
Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group specializes in elderly abuse in Florida nursing homes. Our lawyers can help you get the support you need and the compensation you deserve. We are also happy to answer any of your questions and discuss the common signs of elderly abuse.
Contact Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group today if you are in need of a nursing home abuse lawyer in Florida.
