If you have a family member or friend who is in an assisted living facility, it is likely that they are there because they need help with daily tasks like bathing and dressing. Unfortunately, there are times when people who work in nursing homes may cause harm to those under their care. It can be difficult to know if your loved one is being abused, but there are some signs you should watch for.
Neglect or abandonment
Neglect is the most common form of elder abuse. It includes not providing proper medical care, not providing food or water, failing to provide proper hygiene and allowing an elderly person to live in unsafe conditions. This could lead to family members getting touch with a nursing home neglect lawyer to get help for the abuse they experienced in their nursing home.
Physical abuse
Physical abuse can be seen through physical injury. It can include slapping, punching, pushing and kicking. Physical abuse can be intentional or unintentional (accidental). It can lead to serious injuries or death.
Physical abuse may be a sign of other types of elder abuse as well, such as physical neglect or psychological harm. If you see any kind of suspicious bruising on an elderly person’s body (especially their arms), the facility should investigate it immediately for signs of elder abuse. This includes bruising that occurs over time from repeated pressure (like from a hand grabbing the arm) or even something like dragging someone across the floor by their legs (which leaves behind small scrapes on the back).
Verbal or emotional abuse
Verbal or emotional abuse is a form of abuse that can be hard to detect because it uses words instead of physical violence. However, this type of abuse can also be extremely damaging and can lead to serious consequences for your loved one. Verbal abuse takes many forms, including threatening language and intimidation. It may also include humiliating your loved one by criticizing their appearance or behavior and forcing them to do things they don’t want to do (like taking medication).
Verbal abuse is often used as a tool to control and manipulate the victim into doing what the abuser wants, making them feel guilty, embarrassed or ashamed if they refuse these commands. Elderly people who are victims of emotional elder abuse may suffer from depression or anxiety due to being constantly belittled by caregivers who have authority over them, this can even lead some people into thinking that perhaps they deserve this treatment!
Sexual abuse
Sexual abuse is a serious problem in nursing homes, and it can take many forms. It can be physical, verbal or emotional; intentional or unintentional; carried out by staff members or other residents, or even family members or friends who visit the facility. Victims often have no idea that they’re being victimized until weeks later when they realize what happened to them was actually wrong. If you notice signs of abuse it’s important for you to report them so victim can be protected.
Conclusion
If you suspect that someone close to you is being abused, do not hesitate to reach out for help immediately. It’s also important not to underestimate the signs of abuse or what it looks like; it doesn’t always present itself as obvious physical harm or mistreatment.