Common Signs of Nursing Home Abuse
People who take the steps to have family members placed in nursing homes also deal with an enormous amount of trust being handed to the employees of such nursing homes to care for their loved ones, so it becomes absolutely chilling when a person sees signs that their loved one may not be getting the best possible care. Any person who suspects that a nursing home in Louisiana or the greater Gulf Coast region has been abusing or neglecting their loved one will want to speak to an experienced New Orleans nursing home abuse and neglect lawyer.
The National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) reports that studies found at least one in 10 community-dwelling older adults experienced some kind of abuse in the prior year, with the prevalence of mistreatment most often including psychological abuse (33.4 percent), physical (14.1 percent), financial (13.8 percent), neglect (11.6 percent), and sexual abuse (1.9 percent). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that over 643,000 older adults were treated in the emergency department for nonfatal assaults during one 15-year period, while more than 19,000 homicides occurred.
Possible Signs of Nursing Home Abuse
It is not always easy for family members to see the immediate signs of abuse or neglect. Staff members know that certain signs will be evident to family members and may create stories that serve as excuses to cover for abusive or neglectful behavior.
Some of the most common signs can generally include the following
Physical Abuse
Bedsores or pressure ulcers, a lack of personal hygiene, and dehydration or malnutrition are common signs of neglect, but broken or fractured bones, bruises, burns, and welts on the skin, cuts, lacerations, and skin tears, head or dental injuries, unexplained weight loss, residents being unwilling to speak in front of certain staff members, and any injury requiring medical treatment can all be signs of physical abuse.
Emotional Abuse
An older adult may be the victim of emotional abuse if they display anxiety or depression, lowered confidence and self-worth, an onset of aggressive or violent behavior, substance abuse, suicidal thoughts or actions, or trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms.
Sexual Abuse
Bruises or welts around the genitals, inappropriate physical contact with staff members, and unexplained sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) can all be signs of sexual abuse.
Financial Abuse
Any changes to a power of attorney, opening new credit cards or bank accounts, and strange transactions or charges can all be signs of possible financial abuse of a resident.
People should also look for signs from staff members that may be indicative of abuse, including:
- Any failure to respond to a request for assistance from a resident
- Improperly providing medications
- Failure to respond to concerns about conflicts between residents
- Poor planning when moving residents between floors or rooms
- Showing any kind of disrespect toward residents
Call Us Today to Speak with a New Orleans Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Lawyer
If you fear that your loved one is the victim of nursing home abuse or neglect in Louisiana, Texas, or anywhere else in the Gulf Coast region, make sure that you are quick to seek legal representation for assistance in getting help. Egenberg Trial Lawyers can work tirelessly to make sure that you can get justice for your loved one and also recover compensation.
Our firm knows that many nursing homes are reluctant to admit that they might not have the best staff to deal with their residents, but we also know how to hold these parties accountable. You can call (504) 229-3117 or contact us online to arrange a free consultation with our New Orleans nursing home abuse and neglect lawyer.