Nursing home abuse is something that we as a society rarely talk about. The U.S. has a rapidly growing senior citizen population due to better healthcare as well as a decent standard of living, which means that many of us will have elderly relatives living well into their seventies. That being said, just because people are living longer doesn’t mean that they are doing so with their health intact.
The Facts and Figures
It is estimated that over 90 percent of all nursing homes employ at least one person with a criminal record. At the same time, over 20,000 individuals across the country fall victim to nursing home abuse. Most of these cases are swept under the rug because we as a society are unwilling to face this reality or simply don’t care. The elderly are also looked at as cognitively deficient which puts their credibility into question.
If you suspect that your loved one is being abused in a nursing home, don’t ignore your instincts: there are certain things which may confirm their claims.
Here are a few signs of nursing home abuse:
- Unexplained scratches and bruising on the senior citizen’s body.
- A change in behavior such as a once jovial person becoming depressed.
- The appearance of sores
- Loss of appetite which cannot be explained medically
- Fecal matter or urine smell in the room or their bed sheets
- Repeated requests by your loved one to be discharged
- Compulsive aggression
- Overmedication
- Falls that don’t make sense
- Torn clothing
- Weight loss
- Missing or broken personal items
A lot of the times, one abuser may inflict their cruelty on more than one nursing home resident. This means that there may be other individuals who may complain about mistreatment, so keep an eye out for this during your next visit.
Nursing Home Legal Obligations
The nursing home administration is required by law to ensure safety for all its residents. Should they not mitigate abuse, they can be considered liable for nursing home abuse as well as criminal charges in some cases. It is estimated that over 70 percent of all nursing home institutions are for-profit entities, which means that the welfare of their residents is probably not going to be in their list of priorities. As the country’s number one nursing home attorney law firm, we want to hold these entities accountable for their negligence and failure to offer residents a safe and abuse-free environment.
If you or a loved one was injured due to nursing home abuse, please give us a call on 877-561-3004 today. Your first consultation is free, and we work on a contingency fee basis meaning that we won’t charge you a single cent until we win your case for you. Thanks for choosing us.