Albany Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect Injury Attorneys

Suspect Abuse? Here’s What to Look For.

It is important that you and your family learn the types of nursing home abuse that can occur so that you can be on the lookout for its signs. Common forms of nursing home abuse include, among others:

Neglect: Neglect is the most common and most undetectable form of nursing home abuse. It encompasses the failure of caregivers to meet the nursing home residents’ basic needs, including the provision of food, fluids, safe shelter, exercise, medication, and security. Neglect is the most difficult form of abuse to identify because it often does leave clear physical signs.

Physical abuse: Physical abuse of a resident involves the infliction of injuries or the threat of inflicting physical harm. Common types of physical abuse include shoving, hitting, using excessive restraints, withholding food or water as punishment, and others.

Over medicating: Many nursing home residents will take prescription medications to assist in ailments. Some residents are prescribed medication with tranquilizing effects to help with the anxiety and stress associated with aging and memory loss. Residents’ prescription intake must be closely monitored but unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for staff to overmedicate residents to make them more manageable.

Psychological/emotional abuse: This form of abuse encompasses the intentional infliction of emotional distress upon residents using verbal or non-verbal means. This could include cruel statements made to residents, ignoring or isolating behaviors, and more. Like neglect, this can be a difficult form of abuse to identify.

Financial abuse: Nursing home staff members have stolen residents’ possessions, cash, credit cards, and other valuables. There are even instances of staff pressuring residents into signing over their bank accounts or changing their wills.

It’s important to know the warning signs to stop abuse in its tracks. Nursing home abuse can look like:

• Bedsores
• Bruises, cuts, or infections that can’t be explained
• Malnutrition or dehydration
• Poor hygiene
• Anxiety or irritability
• Fear of a specific staff member
• Broken bones from a slip or fall
• Missing daily living aids (ie; glasses, cane, wheelchair, etc.)
• Unattended medical needs
• Isolation from loved ones
• Unusual behavior or sleep changes
• Withdrawal from normal activities
• Unpaid bills and fraudulent signatures
• Sudden or unusual changes in spending patterns

If you recognize any of the listed conditions, don’t wait. Take action immediately.