6 Warning Signs of Nursing Home Abuse

There are no circumstances in which nursing home abuse is acceptable. Nursing home residents are some of the most vulnerable people in the population and they deserve to live out their final years with respect and dignity.

If your loved one is in a nursing home, you may be concerned about how to recognize the signs of abuse. After all, most elders don’t particularly enjoy staying in a nursing home, even under the most favorable circumstances.

Below, we’ve outlined the warning signs of nursing home abuse you should keep an eye out for.

#1 – Unexplained Physical Injuries

If your loved one sustains physical injuries that cannot be easily explained, this may be an indication that physical abuse has occurred. Some common injuries that can cause reasonable suspicion of physical abuse include:

• Fractured or broken bones
• Sprained joints
• Bruises
• Burns
• A diagnosis of a sexually transmitted disease (STD)

#2 – Abrupt Changes in Your Loved One’s Behavior

Sudden changes in your loved one’s actions may indicate that emotional abuse has taken place. Behavioral changes can look like any of the following:

• Withdrawing from social functions;
• Forced isolation by the caregiver, such as when the caregiver won’t permit family members or friends to physically visit with the resident;
• A staff member who takes care of your loved one appears to be verbally hostile, detached, or belittiling.

Sometimes, elders are unaware they are being psychologically abused because of the severe manipulation they endure. However, asking specific questions can help you uncover the incidence of emotional abuse.

The National Institute on Aging (NIA) reports that emotional abuse can lead to depression, anxiety, and increased health complications in elderly individuals. This could indicate a serious issue if you notice your loved one appearing fearful, withdrawn, or unusually agitated around specific staff members.

#3 – An Unexplained Sexually Transmitted Infection

A sexually transmitted infection or disease may indicate sexual abuse. In addition, trauma around the genitalia can suggest that your loved one has been sexually abused.

Sexual abuse in nursing homes is often underreported due to fear and shame. If your loved one displays signs of anxiety or reluctance to be touched or if they have unexplained bruising around sensitive areas, these could be critical warning signs.

#4 – Deteriorating Personal Hygiene

If you begin to notice that your loved one’s hygiene routine has not been as diligently kept, this can be one of the warning signs of nursing home abuse, neglect or abandonment. Similarly, the following may also indicate the incidence of neglect or abandonment:

• There are signs that your loved one’s medication isn’t being properly administered;
• The facility doesn’t provide enough food;
• Your loved one’s living space is unreasonably grimy;
• Your family member’s clothes or bedding are soiled;
• Bedsores or ulcers appear on your loved one’s body; and
• The facility fails to provide for your loved one’s basic needs, with utilities such as heat, water, and power.:

Neglect is one of the most common types of nursing home abuse. Bedsores, in particular, can indicate prolonged neglect, as they typically form when an individual remains in the same position for extended periods without proper care. If you notice signs of malnutrition or dehydration, this could also signal serious neglect.

#5 – Changes in Your Loved One’s Financial Situation

If you notice that your loved one’s financial situation seems to be changing without a reasonable cause, this may be an indication of financial abuse. Be sure to watch out for these warning signs as well:

• Unpaid monthly bills;
• Sudden incapability of paying bills;
• Giving extravagant and unforeseen gifts, especially to people who aren’t family members;
• Relinquishing control over finances to a caregiver; and
• Your loved one cannot explain certain monetary transactions.

#6 – Undue Diagnostic Tests

Some signs of nursing home abuse are much less obvious. Healthcare fraud can occur in nursing homes in the following ways:

• Sudden or seemingly unnecessary medical care or supplies;
• Your loved one’s caregivers cannot explain why he or she must have certain supplies or care; and
• Your loved one’s insurance policy has been billed for medical services that he or she never received.

Remain Diligent in Looking for Signs of Nursing Home Abuse

Identifying nursing home abuse is not always easy, but you’ve taken an important first step by reading the information presented here. If you suspect your loved one is enduring abuse in a nursing facility, it is critical that you reach out to a skilled nursing home abuse attorney right away.

Our team is highly skilled in this area of the law and we have helped many others in similar situations obtain justice on behalf of their loved ones. We want to do everything we can to help you too.

Call Dempsey Kingsland Osteen today at (816) 484-3776 for a free consultation regarding your case.