Common Nursing Home Abuses

A study conducted at about 2,000 facilities dedicated to the care of the elderly reported that roughly 44% of the patients were abused. The rate of neglect was much higher, yet only 7% of the complaints were made about abuse and neglect. Finding out that a loved one has been abused can be a painful experience. There are many things that need to be done, such as finding a new nursing home and receiving compensation for the negative experience. It is very important to know what a pre-dispute arbitration agreement is before you admit your loved one in a nursing home since this could make it more difficult for you to get compensation, however, we can help.

The following are some of the most common abuses that an experienced nursing home abuse attorney has handled.

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Basic Facts about Nursing Home Abuse

Abuse can be emotional, financial, verbal, psychological, as well as physical.

According to the National Center on Elder Abuse, defining abuse is difficult because there is no national standard. As most states define abuse differently, a nursing home abuse attorney may be required to help determine whether a specific situation can be called abuse.

The most commonly reported form of abuse changes based on location. Financial and neglect tend to be the top two most common forms of elderly abuse.

Approximately 92% of nursing homes in the US were cited for having deficiencies. Of these, 14% had citations that were identified to have cause harm, and 25% were cited for injuries and deaths.

Details about Nursing Home Abuse

According to the Department of Health and Human Services, one out of every seven nursing home residents (usually with dementia) are given unapproved antipsychotic medications.

Those living in a nursing home are less likely to report abuse, and families often do not know what signs to look for. If a loved one has any of the following problems or displays these signs, a nursing home abuse attorney may be required to help determine if it is abuse.

• Physical injuries, such as frequent bruising, a head injury, broken bone, or overdose of medication
• Changes in behavior or emotions, such as crying, or being agitated, fearful, or withdrawn
• Neglect may present through a decline in hygiene, dehydration, or dirty bedding

The following are the most commonly abused patients:

• Those with a mental disability, such as dementia or Alzheimer’s
• Those with little to no social support
• Those who have been abused, such as by a spouse or relative

A Las Vegas injury attorney can assist in determining the right path forward if a loved one has experienced abuse or neglect in a nursing home.