Elderly nursing home residents are at the mercy of the staff they interact with on a daily basis. If those staff members become negligent or abusive, the resident can suffer physical injuries, emotional damage or worsening conditions. It is necessary to recognize the signs that your loved one is suffering harm while in the care of a nursing home facility.
Abuse and neglect can generally come in many forms including sexual abuse, financial abuse and physical abuse. While every case is unique, there are certain common symptoms that should be noted and acted upon immediately, including:
- Physical symptoms: Individuals can suffer numerous injuries due to physical abuse including broken bones, bruises, skin abrasions, cuts or burns.
- Emotional symptoms: Different forms of abuse and neglect can lead to emotional trauma and symptoms including self-doubt, forgetfulness, negative reactions to physical contact, confusion or depression.
- Financial symptoms: An abusive nursing home staff can put enormous financial pressure on residents and some of the signs can include unusual credit card activity, unexplained bank withdrawals or sudden changes to an established estate plan.
Additionally, visiting loved ones must be aware of symptoms that commonly signal signs of neglect and inattention including bed sores, dehydration, malnutrition, poor hygiene and weight loss.
Individuals rely on a nursing home staff to provide the care and attention that an elderly loved one requires in the later stages of life. Whether they are suffering from physical ailments or cognitive conditions, these residents need their care staff to be diligent and kind. Unfortunately, this is not always the case with many elderly individuals suffering several different types of abuse.
