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The elderly are in a vulnerable position, especially if they are living in a nursing home. They rely upon others to help them with daily activities and many require medical care that is vital to their survival. Care workers are screened before they work in a nursing home, but even the most precise screening cannot always detect someone who may be abusive towards residents. That is why keeping an eye out is the best way to stop nursing home abuse.

Types of Abuse

Nursing home abuse can take many forms. It can be abuse that is easily detected in the physical, it may be emotional or it can be financial. Some types of abuse may not be completely noticeable, but when you are properly informed about abuse you should be able to notice the signs of any type of abuse.

Physical abuse is the easiest type of abuse to recognize. It is apparent in physical signs like bruises or other injuries that are unexplained or abnormal for the resident. Physical abuse may also include the inappropriate use of drugs, which could present itself as odd behavior or more frequent and unusual complaints about pain.

Emotional abuse may be more difficult to recognize immediately. However, it is easily caught when workers are carefully monitored. Emotional abuse can include yelling at residents or talking to them in a disrespectful nature. It can also include ignoring the resident or keeping them from interacting with others.

Sexual abuse of elderly persons may also occur. It is any sexual contact with a person without their consent. It can also include showing pornographic materials to elders without their consent or making them watch sexual acts.

Neglectful behavior also constitutes abuse. Neglect involves not caring for the resident in the proper way. It can include things like not bathing the resident properly or not feeding them properly. In general, neglect is when the resident is not receiving the proper level of care and their needs are not being met.

A common form of nursing home abuse is financial exploitation. In many nursing homes residents personal property is stolen or their finances mishandled. Stealing anything from a resident is considered a form of abuse.

Reporting Nursing Home Abuse

Any suspicion of abuse should be reported right away. If you are the relative of a resident and suspect abuse you should immediately contact the nursing home management and demand to speak to someone about your suspicions. If the nursing home management does not seem to want to handle the situation then you should get your relative out of the nursing home and report the home to the proper authorities.

Never let nursing home abuse go unhandled. At the first signs of any type of abuse steps must be taken. The elderly cannot always care for themselves or keep themselves safe. They may have physical or mental problems that prevent them from defending themselves. It is up to those of us in a caregiving position to ensure that they are properly cared for and not subjected to abuse.

Rex Bush handles personal injury cases in Utah. For info on injury issues visit his website: Personal Injury in Utah. Should you hire an injury lawyer? Visit this page: Utah Injury Lawyer.

The older folks in our lives often need our help and care. Due to a lessening in physical and mental capabilities, the elderly are often subject to abuse from unscrupulous characters looking to gain something (financially or emotionally) by mistreating those who have trouble defending themselves. It’s our job to understand elder physical abuse and the laws surrounding it.

Types of Physical Abuse

Physical abuse comes in a wide variety. Although we general think of punching and kick, physical abuse actually encompasses all kinds of mishandling of the elderly. Here are some examples to keep in mind:

1. Cuts, scratches, and abrasions. These can occur from being hit with sharp objects or having things thrown at them.

2. Broken bones. Many times broken bones occur from falls, but its important to determine if the fall was accidental or caused.

3. Bruising and black eyes. Often physical strikes will manifest themselves as bruising. Furthermore, excessively tight gripping for come-along situations can show in the form of bruises.

4. Internal bleeding. Much harder to detect than the external injuries, internal bleeding can be caused much more easily in the elderly than in average individuals. Pay close attention to internal complaints by your loved ones.

5. Sexual injury. It’s unpleasant to think about but sexual injuries can occur from caretakers taking advantage of helpless patients. Your loved one will likely be hesitant to discuss such an issue, so pay attention for unusual behavior or small hints at abuse.

6. Unnecessary restraint. It may not be as obvious as a broken bone, but excessive restraining can be seen as physical abuse. There is an important difference between restraining a patient for his/her own safety and restraining them for convenience.

7. Food and drink deprivation. It’s understood that nursing homes get busy, but that is no excuse for extended food or drink deprivation. Watch for signs of malnourishment.

Why Physical Abuse Happens

There are a few reasons nursing home abuse can occur. The first is frustration. It can be extremely difficult handling ornery and resistant older patients. Frustration can easily set in for nurses and practitioners, resulting in a decision to resort to violence or abuse. The second reason is dominance. In order to achieve compliance and obedience, nursing home workers could use sheer physical superiority. Furthermore, there can be a subtle, psychological thrill at dominating or bullying others. The third reason is sexual gratification. Forced compliance can allow workers to take sexual advantage of patients. Of course every situation is unique and it’s important to pay attention to small details that give you hints at the possibility and causes of physical abuse.

Your Legal Rights

Sometimes if families believe their loved one is being abused they will simply move that person to a different nursing home. This may stop the short term damage, but it doesn’t provide any legal or financial recourse for the abuse. Furthermore, future families are likely to fall into the same situation. For the livelihood of your family and the safety of future patients, it is important that you figure out what you can do to get legal satisfaction for the wrongs done to your loved one.

If you suspect there is physical abuse happening, do your best to document the time of complaints, details of complaints, and potentially pictures of the physical damage done. From there, get in touch with a qualified elder-abuse attorney in your area who knows how to handle the ins and outs of the industry.

Bill Hayes is owner of The Hayes Firm, a specialized personal injury attorney network designed to find the best lawyer for each individual client. Every incident is unique, and it’s important to have someone with many years of experience and an extensive network to help you find the right kind of attorney. Elder Abuse is one of Bill’s specialties and he will be able to properly guide you through the legal process and get you the help you need. Visit today and receive a free legal consultation!

You and your family searched for the best care center for your elderly parent. You asked all the right questions and checked the facility’s credibility and reputation. You saw it for yourself and talked to other residents. You did all the right things; but how do you know for sure that your loved one is being treated with the care and dignity they deserve?

The good news is most care facilities and their staff operates with the utmost of morals. They treat their patients as they would their own parents. There are instances, however, where elder abuse is taking place and their loved ones are completely in the dark as to what is going on.

So, how can you spot elder abuse and neglect? There are several signs to watch for, and these should be noted each time you visit your elder:

• untreated bed sores – this could be a sign that they are left in bed all day and not being cared for properly

• dirty and unbathed – if they need help bathing, this could mean your loved one is being neglected

• Soiled bed sheets and clothes – are they being left in their own filth?

• Unexplained weight loss – this is a sign they are not being fed on a regular basis.

• Your elder may show signs of dementia which could actually be signs of abuse: mumbling to themselves, rocking, etc.

There are also signs of physical abuse that are easier to spot than neglect or emotional abuse:

• unexplained broken bones, fractures or sprains

• broken eyeglasses

• bruises

• restrain marks on their arms or wrists

Many victims of abuse will not come forward and reveal that they are being abused. There are many reasons for this. Some victims feel ashamed, some are afraid of further retaliation by their abuser, and some are afraid they will not be believed.

If you suspect that your loved one is being abused, get help immediately. Take them to their medical doctor and have them thoroughly examined. If their doctor confirms that abuse has taken place, call the police and file a formal complaint. Call the facility as well and let them know that your loved one is being abused. It is possible that the administrators are not aware of what has been going on, or that it is only one particular person that has been an abuser.

You will also want to hire an attorney that specializes in elder abuse. They will look at the facts of the case and fight for your elder’s rights. They will call in expert witnesses like their doctor to confirm that abuse has taken place, and financial compensation may be awarded.

Most importantly, your elderly loved one will be taken out of the abusive situation and taken care of properly with dignity and grace. Elder abuse is a despicable crime, and those abusers should be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. A knowledgeable and skilled attorney will make sure that happens.

If you may be in need of an elder abuse attorney, or want more information on elder abuse, visit www.eadaily.com today. They can provide answers to all of your questions about elder abuse and whether or not you need an elder abuse lawyer.