Those older than us give us their love, time, memories, and a wealth of wisdom. We work hard to ensure they have skilled professionals available once they need more professional care. It would be heartbreaking to learn that an elderly loved one has been abused while in a nursing home, a facility meant to care for their every need. Unfortunately, thousands of residents are victims of nursing home abuse.
Due to poor management and negligence, many nursing homes and assisted living facilities run with minimal staffing or hire workers who have not been sufficiently vetted and screened. Though it’s unsettling, anyone with a loved one housed in a nursing home should know about nursing home abuse for their elder’s sake. To successfully take legal action against your loved one’s abuser, an experienced nursing home abuse lawyer from the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP may be the key.
What is Considered Nursing Home Abuse?
Nursing home abuse is elder abuse that occurs within a nursing home, assisted living facility, or other facilities responsible for the care of the elderly. According to the Administration on Aging, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, elder abuse is any knowing, purposeful, or negligent conduct by a caregiver or any other person that harms or poses a substantial risk of harm to a vulnerable adult.
Any action that causes an elderly victim to suffer bodily injury, mental anguish, or both could be considered elder abuse. Elder abuse commonly occurs when a caregiver refuses to provide an elder with products or services that might prevent them from suffering physical harm or mental anguish.
The Most Common Types of Nursing Home Abuse
Our beloved elders eventually reach a stage where taking care of oneself is more difficult than it once was. To protect their well-being, elders’ loved ones often house them in a nursing home where they will be under the care of caretakers who may claim to be skilled, caring, and knowledgeable. However, elderly people may suffer a range of abuse from nursing home staff.
When your elderly loved one is under someone else’s care, you should be aware of any abuse they could face. In nursing homes, elders are prone to suffering from the following types of abuse:
- Verbal abuse: any non-physical abuse that involves verbal actions like insults, ridicule, shouting, and threats directed at the nursing home resident
- Financial Exploitation: the theft, misappropriation, or concealing of money, property, or other assets belonging to a nursing home resident
- Physical abuse: when a nursing home resident experiences physical harm, discomfort, or impairment due to someone hitting them or inappropriately using physical constraints against them
- Sexual abuse: any non-consensual sexual contact with a nursing home resident
Elderly people are likely to suffer physically and mentally from any of these forms of abuse as they can lead to major illnesses, mental health problems, or even death. When a caregiver or staff member abuses the trust you and your loved one have placed in them, it’s best to try to step in to protect them. Pursuing legal action is often the best way to penalize the abusers while also recovering damages for you and your loved one’s financial losses and injuries.
Signs Your Elderly Loved One May Be Being Abused
Even though it might be challenging to spot signs of abuse in nursing homes, there are some specific red flags you can look out for when you visit an elderly loved one.
Common signs of nursing home abuse include the following:
- Abrasions
- Broken bones
- Bruising
- Cuts
- Fraudulent signatures on financial documents
- Poor hygiene
- Sudden symptoms of depression
- Unexplained sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
- Unexplained weight loss
- Untreated bedsores
- Unusual changes in sleep or behavior
- Unusual and unexplained money withdrawals
Revealing to a loved one that you are experiencing mistreatment can be difficult. Victims are often fearful that their abusers will retaliate against them. Be aware of these signs to protect your elder and prevent future abuse. These warning signs and numerous other symptoms and behaviors could mean your loved one is being abused.
Speak With Our New York Elder Abuse Attorneys for Reliable Legal Advice
Consider reporting the abuse right away if you believe your loved one is a victim of nursing home abuse. Informing the nursing home manager, contacting authorities, and contacting the New York State Department of Health’s Division of Nursing Homes may help prevent further abuse. However, an experienced nursing home abuse lawyer may be able to help you assert your loved one’s rights to compensation.
Before you file your claim, the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP will help you ensure the responsible party is held accountable for their actions. We will work hard to help you assert your rights and vigorously fight for those who have been the victims of elder abuse. To learn more about our firm, check out and subscribe to the Cohen & Jaffe Youtube Channel. To start exploring your legal options, get in touch with our firm at (866) 924-1787 or using our contact form.
For a free legal consultation, call 516-358-6900
The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available on this site are for general informational purposes only. Information on this website may not constitute the most up-to-date legal or other information and may not be applicable in your jurisdiction.
