While many instances of nursing home abuse involve inflicting physical pain onto an elderly person, this is not the only form of abuse that elders experience.
Below, our Pittsburgh personal injury attorneys discuss the different types of nursing home abuse.
Types of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
Nursing home abuse involves the intentional mistreatment of a nursing home resident and takes many different forms. The main forms of nursing home abuse include:
Physical Abuse
The physical abuse of a nursing home resident involves a caretaker hitting, slapping, pushing, or inflicting some other form of physical harm onto an elder.
The warning signs of physical abuse may include the following:
- Unexplained broken bones and bruising
- Broken eyeglasses
- Lacerations
- Restraint marks on the wrists or ankles
Emotional Abuse
The emotional abuse of a nursing home resident involves a caretaker intimidating, threatening, manipulating, or mocking an elder.
The warning signs of emotional abuse may include the following:
- Sudden depression, withdrawal, or anger
- Regressive behaviors including rocking back and forth
Sexual Abuse
The sexual abuse of a nursing home resident involves a caretaker engaging in non-consensual sexual contact with an elder.
The warning signs of sexual abuse of an elder may include the following:
- Unexplained STDs
- Ripped or bloody underwear
Financial Abuse
The financial abuse of a nursing home resident involves a caretaker using or manipulating an elder’s financial assets without their permission.
The warning signs of financial abuse of an elder may include the following:
- Unexplained ATM withdrawals
- Unusual subscription sign-ups
- Missing cash or valuables from the elder’s room
Neglect
Nursing home neglect involves withholding the essential qualities of life from a resident including food, water, medicine, clothing, and more. It can be intentional or unintentional and may result from deliberate actions on the part of a caretaker or from understaffing issues at the facility.
The warning signs of nursing home neglect may include the following:
- Untreated medical conditions
- Bedsores
- Hazardous or dirty surroundings
- Poor hygiene
Suspect Nursing Home Abuse? Contact Us Today
It’s vital that nursing homes practice proper health and safety standards during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you suspect your loved one is not receiving the care and attention they need and deserve in their nursing home, we’re here to help.
Contact Robert Peirce & Associates, P.C. today at (844) 383-0565 to schedule a free consultation with our team.