5 Common Signs Of Elder Abuse To Be On The Watch For
It’s never an easy decision to move an elderly loved one into an assisted living home. However, you’re moving your loved one into their new home because you trust the healthcare professionals who work there to provide the proper care your loved one needs.
Unfortunately, nursing home neglect and abuse are all too common in assisted living homes. Over 2 million cases of elder abuse are reported in the U.S. every year. What’s more, many nursing homes aren’t made to divulge previous lawsuits regarding nursing home abuse or wrongful death.
Consider the following signs of elder abuse and neglect to help protect your elderly loved ones from harm now and in the future.
- Your loved one shows poor communication from the nursing home
One sign of elder abuse is if a loved one begins to rarely communicate with you when they’re in the nursing home. This is especially true if your loved one is usually fairly communicative. Abuse staff members at the home or even administrators can make excuses to prevent families from seeing their elderly loved one, being alone with them, or talking with them. - Your loved one has unexplained injuries or bruises
Another common sign of elder abuse includes unexplained bruises on your loved one or unexplained injuries. Staff members or other residents can often inflict these injuries on elderly residents. - Your loved one has unexplained weight loss
Similar to unexplained bruising and injuries is unexplained weight loss. Unless your loved one is terribly ill and began losing weight outside of the nursing home, unexplained weight loss can be a sign of malnutrition. Malnutrition can be life-threatening to anyone, but especially the elderly as it can make them more susceptible to pneumonia and falls. - Your loved one suffers from various infections and bedsores
While it’s true the elderly have a weaker immune system, consistent infections, bedsores, and sepsis may be signs of inconsistent care from the nursing home staff.
Left untreated, these infections could lead to wrongful death. - Your loved one shows changes in behavior
Finally, another sign your loved one may be suffering from elder abuse is if they show changes in behavior. For instance, your loved one may not speak or act a certain way in front of the nursing home staff.
Elder abuse and neglect are unfortunately common in the United States. If you believe your elderly loved one has been a victim of neglect, abuse, or wrongful death contact an elder abuse lawyer at the offices of Stipp Law Firm today.