Signs of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect

If your loved one lives in an elder care facility, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with the signs of nursing home abuse and neglect. Although chances are your family member won’t experience mistreatment, it’s always best to be prepared in the event that a staff member physically or emotionally abuses them.

If you’ve noticed any of the common nursing home abuse signs, you’ll want to reach out to a Bardstown nursing home abuse lawyer ASAP. An experienced attorney can investigate the situation and determine if you have grounds for a claim. If successful, your claim could yield compensation for your loved one’s medical bills and other losses.

Importance of Looking for Signs of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect

Since the elderly are often limited in their cognitive and physical ability, it’s important to look out for them, especially when they live at an elder care facility. To protect your loved one’s best interests, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the signs of nursing home abuse and neglect.

Elder abuse in nursing homes can come in many different forms, so staying aware of your loved one’s behavior and health is critical. If you have reason to believe that your family member is being mistreated, you may be able to pursue compensation on their behalf.

A strong claim can yield the financial support your loved one needs to recover from injuries, deal with the emotional impacts of abuse, and improve their overall quality of life. Let’s take a closer look at the signs of nursing home abuse and neglect so you can protect your loved one’s physical and mental well-being.

Signs of Nursing Home Neglect

Nursing home neglect occurs when staff members and nursing home medical professionals fail to provide the resources and medical attention required to support a resident’s physical health. A common sign of neglect is the presence of bed sores on a resident’s body. Since bed-ridden residents have trouble moving, they need assistance from staff members to help them change positions in their bed. When staff members fail to offer this basic assistance, residents can develop bed sores that may lead to dangerous infections.

Bed sores are only one of the signs to look out for if you believe your loved one is being neglected. You’ll want to investigate further if you notice any of the following signs of nursing home neglect:

• Unexplained weight loss
• Poor personal hygiene
• Frequent infections
• Dehydration
• Untreated medical conditions
• Sudden changes in behavior
• Unsanitary living conditions
• Unexplained injuries
• Withdrawal from social activities

Signs of Physical Nursing Home Abuse

Sadly, some nursing home residents experience physical abuse and violence from staff members. When an elder is physically abused, they can sustain serious injuries that require immediate and expensive medical treatment.

You’ll want to hire an attorney to help you seek financial remedies for your loved one’s pain and medical bills if you notice any of the following signs of physical abuse:

• Unexplained bruises
• Cuts or abrasions
• Broken bones
• Sprains
• Signs of restraint marks
• Unexplained bleeding
• Frequent hospital visits
• Sudden fearfulness around particular staff members

Signs of Emotional Abuse at an Elder Care Facility

While the signs of emotional abuse can be much more subtle than the bruises, bedsores, and infections caused by physical mistreatment, the impacts of such abuse can be just as serious. You’ll want to file an abuse report and hire an attorney to investigate the situation if you notice any of the following signs of emotional abuse:

• Depression
• Increased anxiety
• Sudden mood swings
• Fearfulness or paranoia
• Changes in sleeping patterns
• Unwillingness to speak
• Low self-esteem
• Agitation or anger
• Avoidance of certain staff members

If your loved one is displaying one of these symptoms, they may be experiencing emotional abuse at their residence. If you notice any signs of nursing home neglect, physical abuse, or emotional abuse, you’ll want to reach out to an experienced attorney. A lawyer can pursue the remedies your loved one needs to treat their injuries, cope with trauma, and move forward.

Schedule a Free Consultation With a Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Today

Finding out that your family member is being abused at their nursing home can be incredibly distressing. At McCoy & Hiestand, we understand how challenging and painful a situation like this can be, which is why we’re prepared to fight for the justice and compensation your loved one deserves.

Our team has 60 years of combined experience handling cases like yours. We’ve recovered millions for individuals throughout Kentucky and are ready to help you seek a high-value settlement as well. Contact us today to learn more about the signs of nursing home abuse and neglect and get the representation your loved one needs to live a safer, happier life.