Giroux & Associates: Identifying the Warning Signs of Nursing Home Abuse
Placing a loved one in a nursing home can be one of the most difficult decisions you can make. It can be very hard on both the family and elderly or infirm individual. One would at least hope that the facility will take good care of a parent or grandparent, but sadly, all too often this is not the case. Nursing home abuse is rampant today with tens of thousands of cases reported annually. If you suspect that your father, mother, or other loved one is being abused, you need to speak with a Tampa nursing home abuse lawyer at once.
The Problem of Underreporting
When you meet with your Tampa nursing home abuse attorney he will ask about evidence you have that the abuse has occurred. Unfortunately, you can’t rely on the nursing staff to report on itself, but you may not be able to depend upon your loved one to be forthcoming either. Elderly victims often feel humiliation and shame about an abuse incident. After all, it is just one more reminder of the fact that they can no longer care for themselves. Nursing home residents also often resent their family members for placing them in the facility. Others believe that any mention of abuse will be seen as a ruse to bring them home, or worse—as an indication that they are losing their mental faculties. Since you can’t be sure that your loved one will tell you they have been abused, you need to look for warning signs.
Warning Signs of Abuse
Nursing home abuse takes many forms, some of which are subtle. As your Tampa nursing home abuse lawyer will tell you, any evidence of abuse may be difficult to see. Look around the facility to see how other patients act. Closely monitor any changes in your loved one’s demeanor. Make your visits at different times and days so that staff won’t know when you might stop by. Note the way your loved one interacts with staff.
There are five general categories of nursing home abuse. These, along with examples are listed below:
1. Physical Abuse: Includes unexplained marks or bruises, broken bones, cuts, burns, etc.
2. Emotional Abuse: Includes crying, agitation, changes in behavior, lashing out, withdrawal, etc.
3. Financial Abuse: Changes to a will, unexplained or unusual bank withdrawals, unexplained transactions on credit cards, changes to banking, missing items from the room, etc.
4. Sexual Abuse: Bruises on the breasts, bleeding in the vagina or anus, torn underwear, etc.
5. Neglect: Unsanitary or dirty conditions, evidence of falls, bedsores, malnutrition, poor hygiene, etc.
A Tampa Nursing Home Abuse Attorney Can Help
If you believe your parent, grandparent, or other loved one is a victim of nursing home abuse, it is vital that you get help right away. For immediate danger call 911 or notify the police. Otherwise, contact a Tampa nursing home abuse lawyer. Call Peter Giroux at (727) 895-5399.