When you have a loved one or family member who is in a nursing home, you need to make sure that you keep an eye on how your family member is treated. The four types of abuse that one has to be on the lookout for are physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse and financial abuse. If you suspect that your loved one is being abused by their nursing home care providers, you need to speak with an attorney so that the nursing home faces consequences for their treatment of your loved one and to ensure that you are able to move your loved one, which can be complicated depending on who is financing your loved one's care.
1. Physical Abuse
Physical abuse is one of the easiest types of abuse to see because it generally leaves behind marks. However, with physical abuse in nursing homes, the person who is doling out the abuse often goes to lengths to hide that abuse. There may be bruises, welts, or cuts on your loved ones' body, but in areas that are hidden from view.
Neglect usually falls under physical abuse as well. Neglect is when the nursing home fails, for example, to bath your loved one or change their sheets and clothing on a daily basis. This type of neglect often has physical health consequences, which is why it is sometimes categorized as physical abuse as well.
2. Sexual Abuse
Sadly, there are sexual predators that work in nursing homes. They may personally sexually assault your loved one with their body, or they may use other instruments to sexually assault your loved one.
The tricky thing about sexual abuse is that your loved one needs to remember that it happened, or you need to see the signs. There could be physical signs, such as swelling and damage to their vagina, penis, or anal areas. To see this type of damage, you would more than likely be participating in bathing or changing your loved one.
3. Emotional Abuse
Emotional abuse is usually about actions on the part of the nursing home that result in your loved one feeling isolated or attached. Perhaps when changing your loved one, their caregiver always yells at them and belittles them. Or perhaps your loved one's caregivers keep them isolated and doesn't let them interact with the other residents. Any behavior where your loved one is put down, yelled at, or made to feel less than can fall under emotional abuse.
4. Financial Abuse
Financial abuse often shows up with home care providers, who become close to the individuals they are taking care of and persuade or trick them into giving their money to them. This can also happen in nursing homes, where caregivers find ways to access their patient's money and use it for themselves.
If you ever suspect that your loved one is being abused, do what you can to gather evidence and work with an attorney to get your loved one moved to a safe facility and to ensure that action is taken against the individuals or facility that brought harm to your loved ones. For more information, contact a company like American Legal Forms.
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