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Sometimes it is necessary to entrust the long term care of a loved one to a nursing home. While many nursing homes provide competent and compassionate care, some do not. On some occasions your loved one may be experiencing elder abuse. Major types of elderly abuse include neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional and psychological abuse, and financial abuse.
 Some people are afraid of disclosing the experiences of elderly abuse in nursing homes for fear it will become worse or because they do not wish to cause worry. Nursing home residents are also often the victims of horrible elderly abuse because they may have physical or mental restrictions that leave them unable to communicate what is going on. For these reasons it is important to notice if there are any visible signs of elderly abuse that your loved one may not be verbally communicating.
If you see any of the following signs of elderly abuse in nursing homes, they should be immediately investigated:
- Wounds, cuts, abrasions, burns
- Bruises, welts, swelling
- Broken bones
- Sudden inexplicable weight loss
- Falls or falling out of bed
- Unexplained/hidden injuries
- Unwarranted restraints (either physical or chemical)
- Infections, fevers
- Bed sores (decubitus ulcers)
- Malnutrition, dehydration
- Confusion/disorientation
- Smells of urine and/or feces
- Poor personal hygiene
- Untreated medical condition
Remember, an individual in the long term care of a nursing home has a number of rights under the law. These rights include the right to:
- Be free from physical, verbal, mental and emotional abuse;
- Be free from physical and chemical restraints;
- Be treated with dignity and respect;
- Adequate and appropriate care;
- Participate in planning your care;
- Voice grievances and problems;
If you believe a loved one may be the victim of nursing home abuse or neglect, a lawyer from Kelley & Ferraro can assist you in determining your rights and whether you have a legal remedy for your loved one's injuries or damages.
FAQ
What is nursing home abuse?
Nursing home abuse includes any mistreatment of an elder, whether it is physical or verbal. Punches, kicks, insults, restraints, deprivation, over- or under-medication, lack of socialization activities, monetary theft – these are just a few examples of abuse.
What is nursing home neglect?
Nursing home negligence includes any incident in which an elder fails to receive proper medical attention, nutrition, socialization, hygienic care, or other mandatory care. Such neglect can cause serious harm, and in some cases, can spell death for the victim. Neglect is the most common type of nursing home abuse.
What are the causes of nursing home neglect and abuse?
Many times nursing homes do not hire enough, as well as qualified, staff. Under qualified, insufficiently trained, and overworked staff can result in abuse and neglect. Unfortunately, many nursing home residents are unable to properly communicate instances of abuse or neglect because of their physical or mental state.
What are the different types of nursing home neglect and abuse?
- Mental Abuse: fear, agitation, hesitancy, depression, withdrawal, sudden behavior changes, unusual behavior patterns, unwillingness to communicate, disorientation, confusion, justified isolation, rude, humiliating, derogatory comments by staff, complaints by residents.
- Physical Abuse: wounds, cuts, abrasions, burns, bruises, welts, swelling, broken bones, sudden, inexplicable weight loss, unexplained/hidden injuries, unwarranted restraints (either physical or chemical), specific complaints by residents.
- Neglect: bed sores (decubitus ulcers), unsanitary environment, malnutrition, dehydration, smells of urine and/or feces, unkempt appearance, poor personal hygiene, untreated medical condition, specific complaints by residents.
- Exploitation/Financial Abuse: sudden, unjustified selling of property, missing/stolen money or property, radical changes in handling personal/financial affairs, specific complaints by residents.
What are some recognizable signs that nursing home neglect and abuse could be occurring?
Any of the following signs could warrant further investigation:
- Unexplained bruises, cuts, burns, sprains, or fractures in various stages of healing.
- Bedsores or frozen joints.
- Unexplained venereal disease or genital infections; vaginal or anal bleeding; torn, stained, or bloody underclothing.
- Sudden changes in behavior.
- Staff refusing to allow visitors to see resident or delays in allowing visitors to see resident.
- Staff not allowing resident to be alone with visitor.
- Resident being kept in an over-medicated state.
- Loss of resident's possessions.
- Sudden large withdrawals from bank accounts or changes in banking practices.
- Abrupt changes in will or other financial documents.
How prevalent is nursing home neglect and abuse?
More than 1.6 million Americans reside in more than 16,000 nursing homes across this country. A 1998 study conducted by the U.S. General Accounting Office concluded that more than half of the suspicious deaths studied in nursing homes were probably due to neglect, including malnutrition and dehydration. The study also found that about 1 in 3 California nursing homes have been cited by state inspectors for "serious or potentially life-threatening care problems," but these citations are occurring across the nation and not in California alone. These figures also exclude unreported instances of nursing home abuse that must also be taken under consideration.
How can I choose a safe nursing home?
There is no full proof way to choose a safe nursing home, but there are steps you can take to better ensure the safety of your family members. By asking questions and looking for signs at the facility you can better prevent unnecessary instances of abuse from occurring. Here are a few questions you can ask the facility (information from Medicare):
- Are the home and the current administrator licensed?
- Does the home conduct background checks on all staff?
- Does the home have special services units?
- Does the home have abuse prevention training?
As with any important decision, by doing your homework you can help put your mind at ease with your final decision. Some other useful tips include:
- The nursing home and its administrator should be licensed by the State to operate.
- Do the nursing home's procedures to screen potential employees for a history of abuse meet State requirements? Your Long Term Care Ombudsman program might be able to help you with this information. The Long Term Care Ombudsman for Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain and Medina Counties can be reached at 1-800-365-3112.
- Some nursing homes have special service units to tailor to specific needs, including rehabilitation, Alzheimer's, and hospice. Learn if there are separate waiting periods or facility guidelines for when residents would be moved on or off the special unit.
- Do the nursing home's training programs educate employees about how to recognize resident abuse and neglect, how to deal with aggressive or difficult residents, and how to deal with the stress of caring for so many needs? Are there clear procedures to identify events or trends that might lead to abuse and neglect, and on how to investigate, report, and resolve your complaints?
- Are there policies or procedures to safeguard resident possessions?
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