What is Nursing Home Abuse/Neglect

Elder abuse is a deplorable issue. Nursing home abuse or neglect occurs as a result of the careless, reckless or negligent behavior of nursing home employees. Nursing home abuse or neglect can be physical, verbal or financial.

Physical abuse is the intentional or unintentional infliction of pain or injury by a nursing home employee, upon a resident. Verbal abuse takes place when a nursing home employee threatens or causes a resident to suffer emotional distress.

Financial abuse involves a nursing home's illegal or improper use of a resident's property or
money for personal gain.

The examples listed below are indicators and types of nursing home
physical abuse:

Bruises, black eyes, lacerations and welts
Broken bones and fractures
Bed sores

Cuts, open wounds, and wounds in various stages of healing
Burns
Poor skin condition
Sprains, dislocations and internal injuries
Weight loss
Dehydration or malnourishment
Signs of restraint
Broken eyeglasses
Sudden change in behavior
Lab findings indicating an overdose or deprivation of medication
Caregiver's refusal to allow visitors to see the other person alone
Rape or sexual assault
Lack of supervision or care
Providing a resident with the wrong medication

Psychological and emotional abuse of nursing home residents typically includes threats, humiliation, verbal assaults, isolation and any type of pain or suffering inflicted on a resident. The following are some indicators of psychological and emotional abuse:

Agitation or anger
Withdrawal
Depression
Confusion
Behavior associated with dementia, such as rocking, biting and sucking

Financial abuse to nursing home residents is the theft or misuse of a resident's funds, property or assets. This may include stealing an older person's money or possessions, forging his signature, cashing his checks without authorization, and misusing guardianship, conservatorship or power of attorney. The following are common indicators of financial abuse to nursing home residents:

Changes in banking practice
Unauthorized ATM withdrawals
Addition of names to bank signature card
Sudden changes in a will
Disappearance of funds or possessions
Unpaid bills despite adequate financial resources

Nursing home neglect is any failure to fulfill duties regarding or obligations to a resident. Nursing home neglect can be categorized as medical or physical neglect. Medical neglect occurs when a nursing home fails to properly care for the medical conditions that a resident develops during or prior to their stay at the nursing home. Physical neglect takes place when a nursing home employee fails to assist a resident with the necessities of daily living.

Listed below are some examples of common indicators and types of nursing home neglect:

Untreated bedsores
Poor personal hygiene
Untreated medical conditions
Unsanitary living conditions
Employee's failure to follow a physician's orders
Harmful living conditions
Employee's failure to prevent a resident incapable of going out on his own from leaving the nursing home
Denying a resident the right to choose a personal physician
Failure of nursing home to store, prepare and distribute food in a sanitary manner
Failure of employee to notify physician of decline in a resident's condition

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