Warning Signs of Nursing Home Abuse
Kentucky Elder Abuse and Nursing Home Neglect Attorneys
Nursing home abuse is not always easy to detect. Most people develop their suspicions after an elderly loved one displays bruises or fractures a bone. But the exploitation of seniors in nursing homes often comes through seemingly invisible violations, such as emotional abuse or sexual abuse. What’s worse is that many nursing home victims are often incapacitated and cannot defend themselves or report their attackers.
Because nursing home residents are so vulnerable, the responsibility of noticing signs of abuse often falls on family members and friends. For your guidance, we have listed below some of the most common indicators of nursing home abuse.
The lawyers at Hughes & Coleman are committed to defending elders who cannot – or are too fearful of retaliation to – report that they have been abused in a Kentucky nursing home. We investigate claims of nursing home injuries and wrongful death thoroughly and will fight so that you will be compensated for the harm that you or someone you love has suffered.
Call us toll free at 866-280-4609 or use our online consultation form for a free evaluation of your claim.
We serve Kentucky clients in Bowling Green, Elizabethtown, Lexington and Louisville. Complete a Free Online Consultation Form, or call us toll free at 1(800) 800-4600.
Signs of Elder Abuse and Neglect
The role of nursing homes and long-term care facilities is to help seniors manage their health problems and everyday limitations while providing them with the best quality of life possible. While many nursing homes perform those duties faithfully and ethically, others abuse their power and inflict serious and sometimes deadly injuries on residents.
Approximately 1.6 million people over the age of 65 lived in institutional settings such as nursing homes in 2009, according to the U.S. Administration on Aging. The agency’s Profile of Older Americans shows that most seniors suffer from at least one chronic medical condition, and many have multiple problems such as hypertension, arthritis, heart disease, cancer, diabetes and sinusitis.
In addition, 37% of seniors reported some form of disability in 2009, such as problems with hearing, vision, cognition, movement, self-care or independence. On average, more than one quarter of the over-65 population have problems performing daily tasks such as bathing and eating, and close to 15% report difficulties with tasks such as using the phone or taking medications.
Examples of nursing home abuse or neglect include:
- Bruising;
- Broken bones;
- Sexual abuse;
- Weight loss;
- Malnutrition;
- Dehydration (dark urine if the elderly resident has a catheter);
- Paleness;
- Sunken cheeks;
- Improper or unnecessary restraint or isolation;
- Depression;
- Sudden withdrawal or decrease in alertness;
- Pressure sores or bedsores from infrequent changes of adult diapers;
- Inadequate monitoring leading an elder to fall or wander out of a secure unit;
- Suffocation or bed-related strangulation;
- Humiliation;
- Harassment;
- Threats of punishment;
- Intimidation;
- Oral, written or body language that is disrespectful to an elderly resident;
- Inattention from nurses when call button is pushed;
- Frequent arguing between the caregiver and the patient;
- Other hygiene problems;
- Financial scams.
Please remember that this is not an exhaustive list of warning signs of nursing home abuse and neglect. You may notice other things that are unsettling or make you uncomfortable. Ask your loved one or a roommate if they have witnessed or experienced abuse. If so, don’t hesitate to report it! Kentucky is a mandatory reporting state. To learn more about how to file a complaint, see our How To File page.
Worried? Call Our Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys Now
If you are a victim or suspect that abuse is occurring in a Kentucky nursing home facility, call the proven lawyers at Hughes & Coleman today. We can be reached at 866-280-4609 or through our free online consultation form.
