5 Facts About Nursing Home Abuse

One disturbing trend for many family members of elderly people is the fact that nursing home abuse is on the rise. When your loved one needs nursing home or other long-term care, you need to be able to trust the level of care they receive. It helps knowing that an experienced attorney is on your side if you suspect abuse or neglect.

1. Physical and psychological abuse are most common – The majority of abuse complaints involve physical abuse, such as pushing and hitting or psychological abuse, like yelling or abusive language. Over half of all complaints involve these types of abuse.

2. Residents often abuse other residents – Some residents abuse other nursing home residents, either physically or verbally. Failure on the part of the staff to prevent such incidents or even encouraging them, may warrant you contacting an attorney.

3. Almost 1 in 3 nursing homes have been cited for violations. These violations against federal standards have the potential to put nursing home residents at risk. It is crucial for family members of elderly or disabled care facility residents to know if their loved one’s facility has had problems so that prompt action may be taken.

4. Sexual abuse occurs in nursing homes – Sexual abuse is particularly distressing for patients, especially those with dementia or physical disabilities. While staff may be responsible for sexual abuse, sometimes this occurs at the hands of other residents with a history of sexually abusive behavior.

5. Nursing home patients may be unjustly confined – One form of abuse that might be easy to overlook is unjust confinement. Using threats or taking away mobility aids are just two examples of this type of abuse.

If you suspect your loved one is being subjected to nursing home abuse, contact the Law Offices of David M. Benefield.

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