As the population ages, nursing homes and assisted living facilities are housing more senior citizens than ever before. Sadly, a study from the Cornell Medical Center of Cornell University and the New York City Department for the Aging found that more than 260,000 (1 in 13) older adults are victims of elder negligence and abuse every year.

Alarmingly, most cases of nursing home abuse are not even reported. You have every right to expect proper care of your loved one when they are placed in a care facility, including a clean environment. Intentional harm or neglect by a caregiver or other persons that cause harm or serious risk to a vulnerable adult is simply unacceptable.

When a loved one has been injured, exploited or otherwise mistreated by someone they depend on for care and protection, please contact our office so that the legal actions that may be taken against those responsible, including suing a nursing home for negligence, can be taken.

Warning Signs of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect

Warning signs of nursing home abuse include physical injuries such as bed sores or other pressure marks, burns, or scrapes, as well as emotional damage. Depression can be detected in rapid mood changes, acting withdrawn from usual activities, or changes in alertness and can be a warning sign of emotional nursing home abuse as well. Common warning signs of nursing home abuse include:

• Bed injuries/asphyxiation
• Dehydration
• Emotionally upset or agitated, extremely withdrawn and non-communicative
• Unexplained injuries such as wounds, cuts, bruises or welts Falls, fractures or head injuries
• Recurring Infections Instances of wandering/elopement
• Malnutrition Rapid Weight Gain or Weight Loss
• Bed Sores/ Pressure Ulcers
• Reluctance to speak in staff members’ presence
• Unsanitary/ unclean living conditions

Sudden or unusual changes in behavioral Nursing home neglect results from instances in which a care facility fails to provide the care and services needed to ensure their residents are free from harm. Lack of supervision of the nursing home residents can cause injury to other occupants, which can lead to lack of treatment and severe injury. Elder care facilities have a duty to supervise their residents and to provide the highest standard of care so these activities do not occur.

What Is Considered Nursing Home Neglect?

Nursing home abuse and neglect can come in many forms, including medical malpractice and careless treatment. It also may involve misuse of restraints, failure to supervise or keep safe, physical or sexual assaults by other residents or staff, medication errors or a failure to follow treatment plans. The following are considered nursing home neglect are are commonly found in Connecticut nursing home abuse cases: physical abuse, emotional elder abuse, sexual abuse, financial abuse and elder neglect.

Eder Neglect

Elder neglect, or nursing home negligence, occurs primarily when a resident doesn’t receive proper or needed care, whether medical, physical, or emotional. Serious harmful risk may be a result of neglect. In some cases, neglect may escalate to other forms of abuse like physical or emotional occurrences. Here are several signs/symptoms of possible nursing home neglect that you may want to be aware of. These certainly are not all.

• Loss of Weight
• Dehydration or Malnutrition
• Bed sores or Pressure Sores
• Poor Hygiene
• Untreated Health Problems
• Unsanitary Living Conditions

Physical Abuse

Physical abuse occurs when there is intentional harm by physical force that is used against a person who often times turns into a victim. This can include such things as hitting, biting, shoving, scratching, and harmful restraint use. Physical elder abuse is complete with obvious warnings. This makes it easier to prove Physical abuse of elders is therefore easier to prove than other types of abuse.

Emotional Elder Abuse

Emotional elder abuse happens when another individual causes emotional distress for the victim. Emotional abuse could be a result from humiliation, ridicule, terrorizing, intimidation, or simply ignoring the individual. Blaming the elder or demeaning behavior are also considered emotional elder abuse.

Sexual Elder Abuse

Sexual elder abuse occurs when sexual contact that is not consensual is made. In many cases, physical and emotional abuse can also be part of this. Elders who are sexually abused may be manipulated, coerced, tricked, or forced into unwanted sexual contact.

Financial Abuse

Stealing money or personal items are forms of financial abuse. This abuse can also occur when another individual pressure or trick an elder to disclose valuable information, such as banking accounts, credit card information or social security numbers. Coercion to change a will, trust, or any other legal document is also considered financial abuse.

Take Action: Suing A Nursing Home For Negligence

Taking action to help prevent nursing home abuse may be difficult, but it is the only way to stop mistreatment and help so that others do not also become victims themselves. If you believe there is evidence a loved elder is in imminent danger, they should be removed from the facility as quickly as possible. After they are safe, you should contact an attorney immediately to discuss legal action that can begin against the facility, administration or negligent party.

Always make sure to ask your senior how they are being treated in the nursing home facility and how they are feeling, both personally, and in their environment. If you notice any signs of abuse or neglect, document it as best as you can. Take pictures, be sure to write down statements not only from your loved one, but from other nurses and attendants who have contact with your senior. The more information that you can provide to your attorney, the greater your chances of building a successful case.

Over the years we have earned a reputation for honesty, integrity and results. If you, a family member or friend is in this unfortunate and heart wrenching situation, please contact us to discuss the details at 877-287-8203

We will answer your questions, evaluate your claim and explain your options at no charge. Our pledge is to provide responsive, superior legal representation.