Nursing Home Malpractice
When we place our loved ones in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, these facilities assume a duty to care for them, and agree to treat them in accordance with the standard of care, dignity, and respect. Unfortunately, poorly trained and inattentive workers sometimes fail to provide adequate care for the elderly. Worse, some nursing homes and elder care facilities employ workers who physically and financially abuse patients. Estimates suggest that as many as 10% of elderly citizens suffer from neglect and abuse, although the number may be higher because many incidents likely go unreported.
Read More: Maryland Department of Aging: Preventing Elder Abuse and Neglect
Read More: Elder Abuse: A Comprehensive Overview and Physician-Associated Challenges
As our nation’s population ages (its fastest rate since 1890), it becomes harder to monitor the quality of elder care and therefore victimization is likely to increase. The National Elder Abuse Incidence Study from 1998 estimated at least half a million older persons were newly abused, neglected, and/or exploited, or experienced self-neglect, with many of these incidents occurring in nursing homes. The World Health Organization states 1 in 6 people over 60 will experience elder abuse in community settings in a year.
What Are the Types and Signs of Nursing Home Negligence and Abuse?
Even devoted loved ones may have trouble detecting the signs, with many elders seldom reporting abuse themselves. Victims may be embarrassed about any incidents or even blame themselves. They also may be completely unaware of the abuse in their lives or environment. Abusive staff members also intimidate and threaten their victims to protect themselves. Any of the following might indicate that a person is suffering from neglect or abuse:
- Physical and sexual abuse can result in bruises, scars, or reports of pain. This can occur due to a caregiver’s deliberate mistreatment or assault, but also from their failure to provide the care required of them. Over 9% of nursing home staff members admitted to physically abusing residents, according to the WHO.
- Emotional abuse involves verbal or physical intimidation, threats, or humiliation, and can cause a resident to be depressed, anxious, or withdrawn from normal activities. Over 32% of nursing home staff members admitted to emotionally abusing residents, according to the WHO.
- Financial abuse includes theft or concealment of funds and property. Caregivers earn the trust of their victims and prey on their trust. Often, victims do not know they are being lied to, but other times are too proud to admit they may have been cheated.
- Neglect involves the failure to care for a victim’s basic needs, and can result in bedsores, poor hygiene, unusual weight loss, and unattended medical needs.
What Can You Do?
In cases of suspected abuse, family members are usually the first to notice warning signs. Nursing homes and elder care facilities often do not have the resources to quickly recognize the signs of elder abuse or notify loved ones, leaving their patients at risk.
If you notice any of these signs, you can contact Adult Protective Services in your state. You can find the APS reporting number for each state by visiting the State Resources section of the National Center on Elder Abuse or calling 1-800-677-1116. If you suspect a loved one is the victim of a crime, you should contact local law enforcement.
Unfortunately, state governments do not always have the time or resources to address this substantial and growing problem. An experienced lawyer may be able to help investigate suspected elder abuse perpetrated by caregivers, hospitals, or nursing homes and protect your loved one’s health, safety, and financial interests. In some cases, a lawyer can help you recover costs suffered due to malpractice, abuse, and neglect.
If you or a loved one has been affected by nursing home malpractice, neglect, or abuse, it is critical to have an informed, detail-oriented, and dedicated medical malpractice attorney who will tirelessly advocate for you and your case. Please contact Andrew G. Slutkin and Ethan S. Nochumowitz for a free consultation at 800-385-2243.
Disclaimer: This page is informative in nature. The information contained herein is not to be considered legal advice and there is no attorney-client relationship formed between Silverman Thompson and the reader.