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

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.