When our loved ones get older, and we send them to nursing homes to get the care we can no longer give them, we hope that they are being treated by a trusting staff. But unfortunately, nursing home abuse is more common than most of us would like to believe. Often times, nursing home workers take advantage of a senior’s weakened state by physically and mentally abusing and manipulating them.
And abuse doesn’t only happen in nursing homes. It can occur with at-home caregivers as well.
This article will explore the various types of nursing home and elder abuse and what you can do if you suspect a loved one is not being treated properly.
What are the Common Types of Nursing Home Abuse?
Nursing home abuse can occur in many ways. Here are some of the most common.
- Institutional Abuse: This kind of abuse occurs in nursing homes and other senior care facilities.
- Domestic Abuse: Domestic abuse occurs outside of a facility, usually in an at-home setting. In these cases, abusers are typically professional caregivers or relatives of the elderly who are responsible for caregiving duties.
- Self-Neglect: This occurs when an elderly person can no longer care for themselves in terms of feeding themselves, washing, dressing, and other days to day activities. This type of abuse is only considered self-neglect if the person is not aware of the repercussions of what they are doing.
For a free legal consultation with a nursing home abuse lawyer serving Smyrna, call (404) 888-8888
What Are Some Common Signs of Abuse?
Common signs of abuse include the following:
- Physical Signs of Abuse: If you see cuts and bruises on your loved ones’ body, these are clear warning signs of abuse. If your loved one is falling a lot or has bedsores, these could indicate abuse as well.
- Malnutrition: If your loved one is losing weight, this could be a sign that the care staff is not making an effort to feed them properly.
- Mismanaged Medication: Your loved one should be getting their proper medication as needed. If the staff is not providing them with the medication they need, this is considered abuse.
- Roaming Off: If you are getting a lot of reports that your loved one is roaming off, it could be a sign that the care staff is not giving them the attention they require.
- Financial Abuse: Abuse can also occur on a financial level. If a caregiver has access to your loved one’s financial details, they may be overcharging them for care or outright stealing from them. Signs of financial abuse include changes in their will, missing possessions, and discrepancies in their bank accounts.
Smyrna Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Near Me (404) 888-8888
Why Does Nursing Home Abuse Happen?
While many of us don’t want to believe that people can be so uncaring as to take advantage of the elderly, it happens more often than you would think. Often, the staff at nursing homes are underpaid and just don’t care enough about their jobs. They are neglectful in their duties, and your loved one experiences a lapse in care as a result.
Mismanagement and poorly trained staff increase the risk of neglect and abuse.
To make matters worse, in some cases, the elderly can not speak or can not fully communicate to let relatives know about the abuse they are experiencing. Therefore, they must suffer in silence.
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What Should I Do if I Suspect My Loved One is Being Abused?
If you think your loved one may be a victim of nursing home abuse, it is essential that you team up with a reliable nursing home abuse lawyer. Trying to file a claim against a nursing home or caregiving facility is a complicated process and one that can be difficult to take on independently.
If you are looking for a trustworthy personal injury lawyer in the Smyrna, GA area, Scott Bader’s team is highly recommended.
Scott Bader has years of experience in the field of personal injury law. He has gained a focus that allows him to show a deep level of care for his clients and fight tirelessly for winning results. He is known for his affordable rates, his sympathetic approach, and his aggressive representation.
If your loved one is being abused, don’t let an incompetent staff get away with it. Call Scott Bader first. He will see to it that justice is served.
Call or text (404) 888-8888 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form