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What You Should Know About Nursing Home Abuse And Neglect

Many nursing homes hide a history of abuse and neglect. If you believe a nursing home employee has abused or neglected someone you love, you deserve to act on it. In a moment like this, you may have many questions. The attorneys of Goldstein & Goldstein, Attorneys at Law, are here to provide you with answers to help guide you forward.

How can I recognize nursing home abuse?

Recognizing abuse can be difficult. Often abusers intimidate victims into silence and if the victim is older and suffering from dementia, they may be unable to communicate. However, there are some unmissable signs such as:

  • Bruises
  • Cuts
  • Frequent ER visits
  • Missing medication
  • Missing belongings

Abusers tend to look at nursing home residents as their sources of funds. They will freely take from your loved ones and punish them for seeking help.

What does nursing home neglect look like?

Neglect can include many of the same signs as abuse, but aside from physical injuries, you may also find:

  • Dirty bedding
  • Unwashed floors
  • Old wound dressings
  • Old notes on in-room charts
  • Broken or burned-out lights.

Look at the facility. If the facility looks poorly maintained, what do you think that says about the treatment of the facility’s patients?

My loved one was restrained. Is that abuse?

It is possible that your loved one was abused, but not necessarily. In caring for people with dementia, it is occasionally necessary to employ restraints in limited circumstances. This could be to medicate the patient or to keep the patient from harming themselves or others. Restraints should only be a part of a known treatment plan. However, if you find your loved one in regular restraints, physically or chemically, it is time to ask questions.

What can I do about it?

If you notice evidence of abuse or neglect and if your loved ones are suffering from a nursing home and its staff, you can take action. However, you do not have to do it alone. Reach out to us to find out how we can help you by calling 216-706-9664 or filling out this form. We will speak with you in a free consultation and fight to hold the facility accountable for the pain they caused.