It is a difficult decision to place our loved ones is an assisted living establishment, but when we do, we do so with the trust that these facilities are going to provide the best possible care. It is unconscionable to think that the people with whom we have put so much faith in could physically abuse the elderly, but the unfortunate reality is that as our elderly population begins to rise so do the cases of nursing home abuse. Often times the victims of physical abuse are the ones that are the most vulnerable, with disabilities or dementia. In other cases, residents are afraid to report abuse in fear of embarrassment or retaliation. It is important for you to be informed of common signs of physical abuse:

•unexplained contusions (bruises), burns, cuts, or broken bones
•frequent injuries or abrasions
•unexplained agitation or fearfulness in resident
•bloody or torn clothing
•frequent arguments or tension between caregiver or resident
• staff does not let family members meet alone with resident 

To be sure, nursing home abuse is not always easy to discover. Many of the signs of abuse, such as bruises, dehydration, shallow breathing, jaundice and other indicia of abuse also can occur naturally. Other signs, such as bed sores, which often result from a failure to provide proper exercise for an elderly patient resulting in severe and persistent pressure on a tendon, are more obvious. Visit our information center to learn more about the types of elder care abuse or click on one of the links below to visit our attorney specializing in nursing home neglect and elder care abuse:

Compounding the problem is that many elderly patients do not report abuse or mistreatment for fear of retaliation or ridicule. It is important for you to explain to your loved one that they should feel comfortable discussing with you any deficiencies in their care, and that you will take those concerns seriously so that they feel free to speak with you.

If you are involved in an accident please call us toll free at 866-484-6992, fill out the online form to the right, or visit one of our three locations in center city Philadelphia, Lancaster or Marlton. If you live outside of Pennsylvania and New Jersey feel free to contact the American Justice Network, a personal injury litigation network that leverages decades of experience and relationships with attorneys to facilitate a connection with the best attorney for you.