Nursing Home Abuse

Philadelphia Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

When you place a loved one in a nursing home or assisted living facility, you trust that the facility will provide proper care. Unfortunately, the trust you place in these institutions is sometimes unwarranted. Whether due to inadequate staffing, poor training, inattention to detail, and at times even intentionally malicious behavior, the care provided by nursing homes sometimes falls short. Elder care facilities that fail to provide proper care are in breach of your trust and the law. If your loved one was a victim of elder abuse or neglect, a Philadelphia nursing home abuse lawyer at Kane & Silverman can help.

Our nursing home abuse lawyers in Philadelphia, PA and Marlton, NJ aim to improve nursing home care by bringing justice to those who violate standards. When we hold negligent nursing homes liable, other facilities are influenced to act in accordance with regulations. This can help protect nursing home residents from abuse or neglect in the future.

Why Does Nursing Home Abuse Happen?

Many nursing home residents are vulnerable and can no longer care for themselves. The cruel reality is that sometimes people prey on those who are vulnerable and defenseless. Nursing home abuse can occur from a staff member or even another resident. Abuse from other residents could result from the negligence of nursing home staff or security.

Elder neglect may occur if there are not enough health professionals to care for the residents. In understaffed nursing homes, it’s your loved ones who suffer. Some assisted living facilities are poorly staffed with employees who have inadequate training or are prone to violence.

Some elderly victims won’t complain about the behavior they’re enduring out of fear of repercussions. When people aren’t aware that abuse is happening, nursing homes continue getting away with it.

Types and Signs of Elder Abuse

Nursing home abuse is not always easy to discover, but it does help to know the warning signs. Some signs are subtle while others are more noticeable. Often, victims become depressed, easily agitated, lose weight or have high anxiety. If you notice any warning signs, talk to your loved one and let them know that help is available.

It’s important for you to explain to your loved one that they should feel comfortable talking to you about any deficiencies in their care. They also must understand that you will take those concerns seriously.

Physical

Often times, the victims of physical abuse are the ones who are most vulnerable. This includes those living with disabilities or dementia. It is important for you to know common signs of physical abuse which include:

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

Sexual

Sadly, sexual abuse can happen in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. It is not uncommon for sexual abuse to occur from another resident. Common types of sexual abuse in nursing homes include:

rape
forced nudity
molestation
exposure to sexual materials (pornography or otherwise)
unwanted sexual acts
sexual coercion

Emotional

Emotional abuse is when nursing home staff members engage in inappropriate or aggressive behavior that begins to affect the mental well-being of residents. Emotional abuse can take the form of verbal degradation, emotional manipulation, and threats. Psychological abuse is not as obvious as other types of abuse because there is often no physical evidence. Common signs of emotional abuse in nursing homes include:

mood swings
unexplained withdrawal from normal activities
low self-esteem
depression
anxiety
involuntary seclusion
confusion

Financial

Financial abuse is when another individual takes or uses the money or property of an elder with intent to defraud that individual. In some cases, financial abuse may occur from another resident. Be sure to look for any odd changes in the financial situations of your loved ones. Examples of financial abuse and exploitation are:

cashing of checks without permission
forging a signature
stealing cash or possessions
deceiving an elderly person into signing contracts or wills
overcharging

Neglect

Many cases of nursing home neglect go unreported and sometimes unnoticed. If you believe your loved one has been the victim of neglect, you have legal rights to pursue litigation. Common signs of neglect in nursing homes include:

lack of proper personal hygiene
obvious malnutrition or unexplained weight loss
in need of medical care
dehydration
bedsores
weight loss
isolation
dressed in dirty/torn clothing

Self-neglect

Self-neglect is when an elderly person who is responsible for his or her own care and well-being refuses to reasonably care for him or herself. Elderly self-neglect can occur for various reasons like financial, physical, or mental health issues. It is the most common form of senior citizen neglect. Unfortunately, it is also one of the most difficult to uncover and rectify. Examples of elderly self-neglect include:

malnutrition & dehydration
unclean or unsafe living conditions
social isolation
home infestations
hoarding (pets, possessions, or trash)
self-deprivation of medical attention
inability to maintain assets or property
lack of appropriate shelter or groceries
weight loss

Abandonment

Abandonment is the desertion of a nursing home resident in an instant when it would be considered unreasonable by a sensible person. Abandonment victims tend to be residents who have a hard time communicating. These residents may also be physically unable to reach buttons to call for help. Abandonment is often hard to detect, but common signs of abandonment include:

bedsores
change in mood or behavior
unexplained weight loss
irritability
depression
sudden change in health
dehydration
strong smell of fecal matter or urine on body or in living area