Abuse in nursing homes and assisted living facilities is far too common and most abuse goes unreported. Placing a loved one in a nursing home is a heart-wrenching decision made with the expectation that your loved one will get the constant care and supervision that they need. Assisted living facilities are not required to provide the intense level of care provided by nursing homes, but still have a legal duty to maintain a basic level of care and security for their residents. If someone you love has suffered abuse in a nursing home or assisted living facility, the compassionate and dedicated attorneys of the Chávez Law Group can help.
Types of Nursing Home and Assisted Living Abuse
The most common types of abuse occurring in nursing homes and assisted living facilities include:
- Neglect
- Physical abuse
- Mental, verbal, or emotional abuse
- Financial exploitation
- Sexual abuse
- Resident on resident abuse
- Inadequate medical care
- Medication errors
- Inadequate supervision
Neglect
Neglect often goes undetected as the signs can look just like the signs of age-related decline. Nursing home residents require a very intense level of care and supervision. Neglect in a nursing home can lead to a slow but permanent decline in health and wellbeing or can result in sudden accidents. Either way, nursing home neglect can be fatal. Those who survive may suffer permanently reduced quality of life. Assisted living facilities do not provide the same level of care provided in nursing homes, but have a duty to assess residents, recognize their needs and respond appropriately.
Neglect in a nursing home or assisted living facility can result in:
- Malnutrition
- Dehydration
- Bed sores
- Infections
- Illnesses
- Medication errors
- Falls and other preventable accidents
- Choking
- Physical attacks
- Elopement and wandering
- Gradual, premature decline in physical health
- Preventable or premature dementia
- Broken bones and fractures
- Cuts and burns
- Severe sunburn
- Brain injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Chronic pain
- Permanent disability
- Shortened life expectancy
- Diminished quality of life
Signs of Abuse in a Nursing Home or Assisted Living Facility
You can only protect and help your loved one if you recognize the signs of nursing home and assisted living abuse. Signs to watch for include:
- Poor hygiene
- Decline in grooming
- Dirty clothes or bedding
- Weight loss or signs of weight loss such as clothes appearing to be too large
- New or worsening memory problems
- Sudden decline in mental health or cognition
- Confusion
- Dementia
- Sudden decline in physical health
- Frequent illnesses
- Bedsores
- Frequent falls
- Unexplained bruises or injuries
- Sunburn
- Sedation
- Use of restraints
- Sudden changes in behavior
- Isolation or withdrawal
- Reluctance to communicate with friends and loved ones
- Agitated, fearful, combative or refuses to communicate in the presence of staff members or a specific staff member
- Rude behavior
- Bizarre behavior
- Behaviors such as rocking, sucking or biting
- Staff is rude to you
- Staff member will not leave you alone with your loved one
- Staff tries to prevent or delay your visit
- Change in banking habits
- Possessions disappear or go missing
- Elopement and wandering
If you suspect that your loved one is a victim of nursing home or assisted living abuse, you need help right away. Please, call the Chávez Law Group at 1-855-4CHAVEZ (1-855-424-2839) or email us today.