It is unthinkable that Maryland nursing homes would mistreat residents who are unable to care for themselves due to advanced age or other medical conditions. However, statistics indicate that this scenario is much more common than you might expect. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) reports that 1 in 10 elderly adults aged 65 years or older will experience some type of abuse each year. Some may endure multiple forms of misconduct when they are already vulnerable.
In many cases of nursing home abuse, it is the resident’s loved ones that must take action to protect the person from harm. When you are in such a position, you may find it helpful to know the different forms of mistreatment. You can rely on an Owings Mills nursing home injury lawyer for assistance with pursuing legal remedies, and descriptions are useful for spotting the signs of abuse in nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
- Physical Assault: This is the most obvious form of abuse, and it is indicated by bruises, lacerations, broken bones, and other physical injuries. Employees are often frustrated by understaffing issues, leading them to lash out at residents by slapping, punching, and kicking them. Improper use of physical restraints is also in this category.
- Sexual Abuse: Though it is a type of physical assault, sexual assault comprises a separate class because of the emotional impacts on the resident. Some signs that your loved one may be the victim of sexual mistreatment include:
- Contracting sexually transmitted diseases;
- Developing frequent urinary tract infections;
- Bruising around the genitals.
- Emotional Abuse: Employees at nursing homes do not even need to make physical contact with a resident for that person to suffer harm. Emotional mistreatment can be severely damaging, leading to depression that affects their overall well-being. Examples include:
- Yelling or screaming;
- Insults and disparaging comments;
- Preventing the resident from seeing loved ones;
- Making threats; and
- Leaving residents in the dark.
- Financial Exploitation: Though it may not seem as serious as the types of abuse that cause physical, mental, and emotional harm, taking advantage of a resident’s finances is a significant problem. Common signs of financial exploitation are missing funds and major changes to a resident’s estate plan.
- Nursing Home Neglect: Mistreatment of residents may be the result of carelessness and unintentional misconduct instead of intentional violence, but the consequences are still harmful. Nursing home neglect is a form of abuse, where facilities do not meet the relevant standard of care in ensuring resident safety. Medication errors, bedsores, and hygiene problems are signs of misconduct.
Set Up a Consultation with a Baltimore Nursing Home Injury Attorney
If you have concerns related to any of the above types of nursing home abuse, time is of the essence to retain skilled legal representation. Our team at Furman | Honick Law is prepared to assist with getting your loved one to safety, and we will guide you in pursuing remedies. Please call 410-844-6000 or go online today to speak with a partner today for a free case evaluation at our offices in Owings Mills or Baltimore.
Source:
justice.gov/file/1098056/download