TYPES OF ABUSE & WARNING SIGNS
If you notice any of the below signs, you should consider contacting an attorney to see if you may have a case for a nursing home abuse lawsuit:
PHYSICAL ABUSE
- Warning signs:
- Bruises, welts, abrasions, lacerations
- Head trauma, fractured bones,
- Open wounds, sometimes seen in various stages of healing,
- Falls, broken eyeglasses/frames
- Medication overdose/chemical restraints
- Sudden behavioral changes.
SEXUAL ABUSE
- Warning signs:
- Bruises, abrasions, or lacerations around the breasts or genital area
- Unexplained sexually transmitted diseases
- Unexplained vaginal or anal bleeding
- Increased anxiety/depression
- Sleep disturbances, agitation, or restlessness.
EMOTIONAL/PSYCHOLOGICAL ABUSE
- Warning signs:
- Emotional distress or agitation
- Withdrawal from activities of daily life
- Uncommunicative or non-responsive
- Unusual behaviors commonly attributed to dementia (sucking, biting, rocking)
- Lack of self-care
- Lower self-esteem
FINANCIAL ABUSE
- Warning signs:
- Sudden changes in the bank account or banking practices, including an unexplained withdrawal of large sums of money.
- Abrupt changes to a will or other financial documents,
- Unexplained disappearance of funds or valuables,
- Depression/Anxiety
- Provision of unnecessary services.
NEGLECT
- Warning signs:
- Dehydration or malnutrition
- Untreated bedsores
- Poor personal hygiene
- Unattended or untreated health problems
- Unsafe or unsanitary living conditions.
Friends and family must take extra care if their loved one is cognitively impaired when monitoring for abuse. Elderly individuals who have dementia, for example, may speak of abuse, but it can be difficult to ascertain whether that abuse is recent or if it occurred in years past. Monitoring for physical signs of abuse is critical to ensure that your loved one has not been a victim.
Visit your family member/loved one often. Alter the times that you arrive at the facility to see different levels of care being provided. Remove your loved one from the facility if possible to allow them to relax and speak freely. Help participate in care yourself. And above all, do not ignore signs of physical or sexual abuse.
Our team at Brown & Crouppen is dedicated to finding, pursuing, and holding accountable those responsible for abuse in a nursing home setting. If you believe you may have a case for a nursing home abuse lawsuit, our team will be there every step of the way to find them justice. Get help from our nursing home abuse attorney in St. Louis or Kansas City nursing home abuse attorneys by requesting a free online case evaluation.
