If you have a loved one in a nursing home, it is important that you take time to visit frequently. This gives you the opportunity to see, firsthand, the care he or she is receiving. It also gives you an opportunity to listen to your loved one and fully understand their experience – something that can strengthen your relationship while allowing you to make sure they are safe. If you suspect abuse, it is important to take swift action to help restore peace and protect your loved one from further indignities.
Signs of Abuse in a Nursing Home
Signs of abuse in a nursing home include:
- Unexplained injury
- Bruises and lacerations
- Burns and rashes
- Broken or fractured bones
These types of injury should be brought to the attention of nursing home administrators. If they are the actions of a rogue employee, that is often the most effective way to help prevent their reoccurrence.
Of course, not all signs of abuse are physical. Some of the more subtle signs of nursing home abuse include:
- Adopting new habits such as nail biting
- A withdrawal from the larger nursing home community
- Visible fear or discomfort around staff
- Anxiety
- Depression
As with physical signs of abuse, these changes in behavior should prompt a discussion with nursing home administrators. If you suspect the abuse is systemic or part of the nursing home’s culture, however, you will want an attorney on your side.
We Are Here to Help
The nursing home abuse lawyers at the Cifarelli Law Firm know how to identify abuse and we have the resources and tenacity to help victims of this terrible injustice get the justice they deserve. Please call 949-502-8600 today to schedule your complimentary consultation at our Irvine location to learn more.
