Nursing Home Abuse: What Is It and How to Stop It – Part 2

Abuse and neglect are rampant issues that can have long-lasting physical and emotional consequences on the victim and family. It affects any age, race, and gender, and it’s heartbreaking that it also occurs in nursing homes. It happens when a caregiver or someone else in the facility deliberately hurts an older adult or ignores their needs. 

For this reason, you should find a professional nursing home abuse attorney. These legal experts tirelessly advocate for nursing home abuse and neglect victims, fight for their rights, and seek justice. 

We previously defined nursing home abuse, the different types of mistreatment, and the warning signs. This article will explain why these cases happen, how to report them, and how to prevent future incidents. 

Why Does Nursing Home Abuse Happen?

Several factors contribute to nursing home abuse, like mistreating people for-profit motives and neglecting repairs. Therefore, nursing homes must implement measures to ensure safety because senior citizens are at a higher risk of abuse. 

A lack of training and understaffed nursing homes can also lead to tragic outcomes. For instance, a 67-year-old man died because staff members didn’t feed him a mechanical soft diet. Although inadequate staffing can lead to burnout, stress, and harmful mistakes, it’s never an excuse to abuse and neglect this vulnerable population. Remember that nursing home abuse violates state and federal laws and should never happen to any elderly individual. 

Did the Pandemic Affect the Nursing Home Abuse Cases?

The pandemic placed nursing home residents at a higher risk of catching and succumbing to the virus, where over 133,000 residents have died from COVID complications. Despite the legal requirements for nursing homes to implement preventive measures, some facilities failed to do so adequately. 

Nursing homes have also placed residents at risk because of scarce supplies and not taking necessary precautions, especially with the new variant. As a result, cases are surging in nursing homes, where almost half the employees are unvaccinated, and elder abuse has increased during COVID-19. Moreover, officials introduced legislation to improve nurse staffing and control new infections.

Are Residents with Dementia Prone to Abuse?

Dementia patients, especially those with Alzheimer’s, are at high risk of abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation because of their vulnerability and cognitive decline. Abusive caregivers use their difficulty remembering, reasoning, and communicating to commit financial fraud. Your relative suffers from financial abuse if you notice missing cash or valuables, unexplained money withdrawals, and unpaid bills.

Essential Facts to Know

Elder abuse affects about one in ten people over 65 in the United States, and women are more likely to be victims. This issue occurs more often in nursing and long-term care facilities than homes. Psychological abuse is the most common form of mistreatment in these settings, followed by neglect, physical, financial, and sexual abuse. 

How to Report Nursing Home Abuse

If you suspect nursing home abuse, report it immediately to the facility administrator and the state agency regulating nursing homes. You can also contact your state’s Ombudsman Program and the local sheriff’s office to report these cases. Moreover, consult an experienced nursing home abuse attorney to help you and your elderly relative recover from the mistreatment and get the reimbursement you deserve. 

How to Prevent Nursing Home Abuse

You can help prevent nursing home abuse by watching for the warning signs, regularly contacting your loved ones, speaking up about your concerns, and researching the facility for potential issues. The government requires these institutions to report and investigate abuse, neglect, or mishandling of resident property allegations. While their self-reporting methods may help, you should visit the nursing home often and establish relationships with caregivers. 

End Nursing Home Abuse Now

Nursing home abuse is a serious global issue that affects many older adults. You can protect your loved ones and others from mistreatment by reporting these cases and consulting a professional nursing home abuse attorney. 

If you need a nursing home abuse attorney to fight for your elderly loved one, call Circeo Law Firm! Our professional lawyers will aggressively advocate for justice to help you get the appropriate compensation. Schedule your free consultation today!