Do You Suspect Neglect at Your Loved One’s Nursing Home?

Whether it’s your parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, or spouse, having a loved one in a nursing home is an experience filled with emotional highs and lows. But no matter what the circumstance is for you and your family, your loved one should never have to suffer abuse or neglect. If you are concerned that your loved one’s nursing care is not up to standard, or you suspect that neglect is taking place, it is vital that you investigate right away.

Start by spending more in-person time with them and discuss their daily experiences and schedules. This can help you identify the common signs of nursing home neglect and elder abuse. You should also speak with the staff and attending physicians about your concerns as well.

Continue reading to learn what signs to look for that suggest abuse or neglect is taking place, and what you can and should do about it.

Indianapolis Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
Indianapolis Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer 317-881-2700

Nursing Home Neglect Cases

Unfortunately, nursing home abuse and neglect is far too common. There are many types of neglect and abuse that can happen at a nursing home or senior care center, and they usually present themselves in tell-tale signs. However, elders don’t always speak up and notify someone when they are experiencing abuse, neglect, or any other kinds of problems in their care home. When elders are abused or neglected, they often hide it, while many others don’t even realize it’s happening to them. But if you keep a keen eye on your loved one and their habits, you should be able to identify the many signs and symptoms of nursing home abuse and neglect.

Common Types of Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse:

▷ Wrongful Death
▷ Moving Injuries
▷ Inappropriate Use of Restraints
▷ Physical Assault
▷ Sexual Assault
▷ Not Enough Staff
▷ Emotional or Verbal Abuse
▷ Medication Malpractice
▷ Failure to Use Bed Rails Causing Falls
▷ Failure to Remove Elders from Wheelchairs Properly
▷ Prolonged Isolation or Abandonment
▷ Neglect (allowing/ignoring self-harm, etc.)
▷ Hygienic Neglect
▷ Unqualified Staff
▷ Financial Abuse
▷ Inattentive Staff (slip and falls, leaving the facility, simply not caring, etc.)

How to Identify the Signs of Nursing Home Neglect and Elder Abuse:

▷ Staff advising of Self-Harming/Self-Abuse
▷ Depression
▷ Mood Instability
▷ Personality Changes
▷ Poor Hygiene
▷ Financial Inconsistencies/Problems
▷ Missing Money
▷ Malnutrition
▷ Extreme Weight Loss
▷ Severe Dehydration
▷ Bed Sores
▷ Orthopedic Fractures
▷ Unexplained Injuries or Bruises
▷ Missing Valuables
▷ Prolonged Isolation or Abandonment

What to Do if Your Loved One is Showing Signs of Elder Abuse or Neglect

If you suspect your elder is being abused, neglected, or mistreated at their assisted living center, your first step is to contact a seasoned and trusted Indiana nursing home neglect lawyer to learn your rights and best course of action. They have the resources and experience to implement proper investigation, information gathering, and questioning that will lead to proving fault and damages. You could obtain substantial compensation for your loved one’s losses, including pain and suffering and mental anguish. You should always take photos and keep notes on names of persons involved, dates and issues to go over with your attorney.

Are you ready to obtain justice for your abused or neglected loved one? Contact the Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 and schedule a free consultation with an experienced nursing home neglect lawyer in Indianapolis, Indiana. We represent clients all throughout the state, and never collect attorney fees unless we prevail for you.

You Should Read:

FAQS Regarding Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
Are Bed Rails a Safety Concern for the Elderly?
Fractured Hip Injuries and Elderly Slip and Fall Accidents

Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700
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3 Common Types of Nursing Home Abuse

Nursing Home Neglect Claims 317-881-2700

Nursing Home Neglect Claims 317-881-2700

Putting our elderly loved ones into a nursing home is not an easy decision to make. But it is common to feel uncertain about nursing home care. Most families fear that their elders will experience loneliness and segregation, but what we don’t think about is another common nursing home issue: abuse. Unfortunately, nursing home abuse is a real problem in our country, so it is important to always be on the lookout for warning signs that your loved one is a victim of abuse.

If they are, they could be entitled to financial compensation to make up for their losses and damages accrued as a result of the abuse. There are several, if not infinite, ways for a resident to be abused in a nursing home. However, there are 3 primary types of nursing home abuse you should be aware of if you have loved ones in nursing home care. Continue reading to learn these common types of nursing home abuse, and what to do if you suspect your loved one is a victim.

Physical Abuse

Physical abuse is the act of intentional, non-accidental harm to a resident. It is the most evident form of abuse that can occur in a nursing home. The signs are easy to see, and a victim’s behavior is likely to change as a result. Common types of physical abuse include:

• Hitting
• Punching
• Punching
• Choking
• Shaking
• Aggressive Handling
• Force-Feeding
• Over-Medicating
• Burning
• Misuse of Restraints
• Confinement

The signs of physical abuse is easy to detect, and include bruising, flesh wounds, scarring, orthopedic injuries, and other visible forms. But there are other signs of physical abuse that are not so evident, such as fear, anxiety, depression, verbal regression, and more.

Financial Abuse

Although this is not commonly thought of, nursing home residents often find themselves victims of financial abuse, and many other times, they are completely unaware until it’s too late. Financial abuse to nursing home residents can come at the hands of employees or even fellow residents. Here are common examples of financial abuse in a nursing home:

• Stealing Cash or Property
• Unauthorized Cashing of Checks
• Misusing Credit Cards
• Identity Theft
• Forgery
• Deceiving Victim into Signing Legal Documents
(i.e. power of attorney, contract, will, etc.)
• Abuse or Improper Use of Conservatorship

Signs of financial abuse could come in the form of unexplained cash withdraws, missing belongings, unaccounted for bank charges, change in credit score, additional names on bank accounts or legal documents, unpaid bills, overdrafts, forged signatures, or abrupt changes in wills.

Emotional Abuse

Some forms of abuse are harder to see, and this is the case with emotional abuse. And even though it is more difficult to detect, it is just as damaging as all other forms of abuse. Generally, signs of emotional abuse are present, but only detectable if you are looking for them. Common types of emotional abuse in a nursing home include:

• Yelling
• Insulting
• Threats
• Harassment
• Ridiculing
• Infantilizing
• Isolation

Signs that a resident is being emotionally abused by staff or other members of the home can come in the form of anger, agitation, anxiety, depression, social withdraw, unwarranted fears, regressive behaviors like rocking or nail-biting, self-inflicted wounds, non-communicative, and more.

Indianapolis Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers

Craven Hoover Blazek Personal Injury Law

Craven Hoover Blazek Personal Injury Law 317-881-2700

Call Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 for help filing a nursing home neglect claim in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our seasoned personal injury attorneys are eager to help you and your family recover compensation for the damages and losses accrued as a result of nursing home abuse. We offer free initial consultations and never collect lawyer fees unless we prevail for you. Call 317-881-2700 to schedule an appointment with an experienced Indianapolis accident attorney, today.