Nursing Home Abuse
Nursing home abuse or neglect is sadly one of our nation's most rapidly growing problems because a major part of our population is getting older. Of the approximately 1.8 million nursing home residents, roughly one third of them will reside in nursing home facilities with reported cases of abuse or neglect. Nursing home abuse can include physical abuse, neglect, sexual abuse, emotional and psychological abuse, administering wrong medication or treatment, and even abandonment.Types of Nursing Home Abuse
Physical
Nursing home abuse is often exhibited in cases of physical abuse. Physical abuse in a nursing home may include the beating, hitting, pushing, slapping, shaking, kicking, burning, inappropriately restraining, or pinching of any patient in the nursing home facility. Physical abuse may also occur in a nursing home through less direct ways of force-feeding or unsuitable drug use.
If you notice signs of physical abuse with your loved one, please do not hesitate to make a report with management or notify the proper legal authorities. In addition to visible signs, it is important to take notice of unexplained injuries, poor treatment by nursing home staff, over medication, dehydration, malnutrition and all other signs of physical nursing home abuse.
Neglect
Neglect can also be another serious form of nursing home abuse. Neglect may be occurring if you notice recurring infections, poor hygiene, unsanitary living conditions, lack of medical attention, or signs of dehydration or malnutrition in a nursing home resident. Again, if you notice any neglect, please notify the proper staff members and make a report.
Emotional
Nursing home abuse is not limited to physical abuse. Unfortunately, nursing home residents are victims of emotional and psychological abuse as well. Emotional nursing home abuse can include any form of verbal abuse, humiliation, intimidation, isolation, harassment or insult by a nursing home facilitator to a resident.
Important signs in a patient that may indicate psychological nursing home abuse are withdrawal, agitation, isolation, rocking, sucking, biting, strange behavior towards loved ones, and other uncharacteristic displays of aggression, fright or humiliation. Like physical abuse, emotional abuse can be traumatizing and should be reported if discovered.
Contact Us
Nursing home abuse is unacceptable at any level. If you or a loved one has been a victim of nursing home abuse, my firm will be more than honored to offer a FREE initial consultation on how we can help.
Please contact our firm to speak to a qualified nursing home abuse attorney for a free evaluation of your case.
Tel. 832-797-7600
gharrisonlaw@yahoo.com
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