Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect: How to Tell the Difference

As we age, our physical and cognitive abilities decline, and we often require additional care and assistance to perform daily tasks. This is where nursing homes come in, providing a safe and supportive environment for elderly individuals who require around-the-clock medical attention and personal care. 

However, nursing homes are not always the haven we expect them to be, and many residents suffer from abuse and neglect. While abuse and neglect may seem similar, the two have distinct differences. This article will explore the differences between nursing home abuse and nursing home neglect, along with where to find an attorney for nursing home abuse. 

What Is Nursing Home Abuse?

Nursing home abuse is any intentional harm inflicted upon a resident by a staff member, another resident, or a visitor. Abuse can take many forms, including physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, financial abuse, and neglect. Nursing home abuse is a severe problem that can cause physical and emotional harm to residents and even lead to death.

Types of Nursing Home Abuse

• Physical abuse: Physical abuse involves any form of physical harm inflicted upon a resident, such as hitting, pushing, or restraining with excessive force. It can also include using inappropriate physical restraints, such as tying a resident to a bed.
• Emotional abuse: Emotional abuse involves any form of psychological harm inflicted upon a resident, such as verbal abuse, threats, intimidation, or isolation.
• Sexual abuse: Sexual abuse involves unwanted sexual contact or exploitation, such as rape, touching, or exposure.
• Financial abuse: Financial abuse involves any form of exploitation of a resident’s financial resources, such as stealing money or property, forging signatures, or coercing residents into signing documents.
• Neglect: Neglect is a form of abuse involving failure to provide adequate care and attention to a resident. Neglect can take many forms, including failure to provide food, water, or medication, failure to assist with personal hygiene, and failure to provide adequate medical care.

What Is Nursing Home Neglect?

Nursing home neglect is a form of abuse that fails to provide adequate care and attention to a resident. Neglect can take many forms, including failure to provide food, water, or medication, failure to assist with personal hygiene, and failure to provide adequate medical care.

Types of Nursing Home Neglect

• Medical neglect: Medical neglect involves failing to provide appropriate medical care to a resident, such as not administering medication as prescribed, failing to monitor a resident’s condition, or not providing necessary medical treatment.
• Basic needs neglect: Basic needs neglect involves failing to provide necessities such as food, water, and shelter. This can include failure to provide adequate nutrition, water, or a safe and clean living environment.
• Personal hygiene neglect: Personal hygiene neglect involves failing to assist a resident with individual hygiene needs, such as bathing, grooming, and toileting.
• Social or emotional neglect: Social or emotional neglect involves the failure to provide social and emotional stimulation to a resident, such as isolating them from other residents, providing opportunities for social interaction, or ignoring the resident’s emotional needs.

Key Differences Between Nursing Home Abuse and Nursing Home Neglect

While abuse and neglect may seem similar, the two have distinct differences. The main difference between abuse and neglect is that abuse is intentional, while neglect is often unintentional. Abuse involves deliberate harm, while neglect involves failure to provide adequate care and attention.

Another difference between abuse and neglect is the harm inflicted upon the resident. Abuse involves physical, emotional, or sexual harm, while neglect involves damage caused by a lack of care or attention. Neglect can lead to bodily injury, such as malnourishment or dehydration, or emotional harm, such as social isolation or depression.

The signs and symptoms of abuse and neglect can also differ. Signs of abuse may include unexplained bruises, broken bones, or other injuries, sudden changes in behavior, and fear or discomfort around staff members. Signs of neglect may include malnutrition, dehydration, poor personal hygiene, bedsores, and untreated medical conditions.

Getting Legal Help 

Nursing home abuse is a serious concern that affects thousands of elderly people in the United States each year. If you or someone you love is a victim of nursing home abuse, it is essential to speak up and seek help from a qualified nursing home abuse attorney. 

An attorney specializing in nursing home abuse and neglect can provide invaluable assistance in pursuing justice and obtaining the compensation you may be entitled to.

Conclusion

Nursing home abuse and neglect are serious problems that can cause physical and emotional harm to residents. While abuse and neglect may seem similar, the two have distinct differences. 

Abuse involves deliberate damage, while neglect involves failure to provide adequate care and attention. Both abuse and neglect can lead to physical and emotional damage, and it is vital to be aware of the signs and symptoms of each. 

Suppose you suspect a loved one is abused or neglected in a nursing home. In that case, taking action immediately by seeking a nursing home abuse firm and reporting the abuse to the appropriate authorities is essential.

If you or a loved one were hurt due to someone else’s carelessness, our Kentucky injury lawyers at Circeo Law Firm would fight tirelessly for justice. The Circeo Law Firm has earned a stellar reputation for successfully representing clients in Kentucky and nationwide. We have helped our clients win hundreds of millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements thanks to our legal team’s dedication, skill, and dedication. Contact us today to schedule a consult with an attorney for nursing home abuse and neglect.