Hidden Signs of Nursing Home Abuse
Nursing home abuse is so horrifying that it’s difficult to even contemplate. The people we trust to take care of our elders should be compassionate and full of concern for their well-being.
Sadly, nursing home abuse is much more prevalent than people realize. There are a lot of employees working in these places who abuse their authority and take advantage of the most vulnerable among us.
Preventing Nursing Home Abuse
Owners and administrators of nursing homes have a responsibility to maintain a safe and secure environment for your loved one to reside in comfort. But they will often try to save time and money by hiring employees with questionable backgrounds. Nursing homes that fail to take necessary employment precautions are guilty of negligent hiring.
To prevent abuse, nursing homes must implement the following safeguards:
- Screen all new employees
- Provide training to help staff detect abuse
- Mandatory abuse reporting policies
- Proactive employee monitoring
Telltale Signs of Nursing Home Abuse
People who would abuse defenseless elders are totally unscrupulous and will go to great lengths to avoid getting caught. These perpetrators think nothing of destroying evidence and threatening victims with physical harm to protect themselves.
Your loved ones may be reluctant to tell you about what happened due to fear of retribution. And victims of sexual abuse may also feel embarrassed about what they’ve been through. If you notice changes in your loved one’s mood or behavior, it could be a sign of abuse.
Symptoms of nursing home abuse include:
Signs of Sexual Abuse:
- Fear of a caretaker
- Pain and injuries in genital region
- Torn or stained undergarments or bedding
- STDs
Signs of Neglect and Abandonment:
- Unclean clothes
- Poor hygiene
- Soiled linens
- Bedsores
- Weight loss
- Dehydration
Signs of Physical Abuse:
- Bruising
- Broken bones
- Sprains or dislocations
- Rope marks and signs of restraints
- Caregiver is reluctant to leave you alone with patient
Signs of Emotional Abuse:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Patient becomes withdrawn
- You witness belittling, controlling, or threatening behavior
Signs of Financial Abuse:
- Unexplained withdrawals from bank accounts
- Changes in power of attorney or insurance policies
- ATM withdrawals that the patient could not have made
- Changes in the patient’s financial situation
- Missing money or property
- Unpaid bills
Do You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse?
If you have any reason to suspect elder abuse is taking place at your loved one’s Campbell County nursing home, contact Wyoming Protective Services right away and report what you have seen.
Law enforcement and public health authorities will investigate charges of elder abuse for criminal prosecution. But these officials often have large caseloads and limited budgets.
A civil lawsuit against an abusive nursing home is completely separate from a criminal prosecution. Our team at Steven Titus & Associates, P.C. has the necessary resources to fully investigate the situation and find out what’s really going on.
Our investigators will go over the evidence with a fine-toothed comb, collecting the following types of information to prove wrongdoing:
- Witness interviews
- Internal company documents
- Security camera video
- Forensic evidence
- Expert testimony
Fighting to Protect Your Loved Ones
At Steven Titus & Associates, P.C., we’re on your side. If our investigation uncovers signs of illegal and inappropriate treatment, we’ll file a claim to collect damages from the nursing home and its owners. This will also help protect other innocent elders from suffering abuse in the future.
Call (307) 257-7800 to speak with a Gillette nursing home abuse lawyer to learn more today.
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