Abuse is a broad term that refers to any form of harm a medical professional or caregiver inflicts on an individual. According to World Health Organization estimates in June 2024, at least one in six people 60 years and older experienced some form of abuse in community settings in a recent year. Shockingly, two of three staff members at nursing homes and long-term care facilities admitted to committing some form of abuse in the same year. What should you do once you see several types of abuse in healthcare and nursing homes?
You trust healthcare providers and caregivers to deliver the highest quality of care to you and your loved ones, especially those in nursing homes and long-term care facilities. Quality treatment, respect, and compassion should come with the territory. Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case. Not all medical professionals and caregivers look out for patients’ best interests, nor do they adhere to the appropriate standard of care. By knowing some signs of nursing home abuse to watch out for, you can protect your loved ones from abusive treatment and give you the evidence you need to hold negligent providers accountable.
Common Forms of Abuse in Healthcare Settings and Nursing Homes
Some types of abuse in healthcare and nursing home facilities come in a number of forms. These include the following:
Physical Abuse
Perhaps the most recognizable form of healthcare abuse is physical abuse, because it can leave visible traces of damage behind. Physical abuse involves medical providers or caregivers intentionally harming individuals via hitting, kicking, slapping, pushing, biting, or unnecessary physical restraint. Physical abuse may result in unexplained bruising, lacerations, abrasions, and broken bones.
Psychological or Emotional Abuse
Emotional or mental abuse is more challenging for people to pin down and identify because the signs tend to be more subtle. Psychological abuse can occur when a caregiver intentionally inflicts emotional harm or damage on a patient by using verbal or nonverbal threats. Aggressive comments, yelling, humiliating, harassment, and using degrading language with a patient or elderly resident constitute emotional abuse.
Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse is one of the most underreported forms of healthcare abuse. Women and individuals with cognitive impairments like dementia are more likely to be victims of sexual abuse in the healthcare system. Unfortunately, women make up nearly two-thirds of the nursing home population. Sexual abuse includes any form of unwanted sexual contact or touching, rape, forced nudity, taking sexually explicit photographs or videos, and forcing a resident to watch explicit materials against their will.
Financial Abuse
One form of abuse many families may not become aware of until significant damage has been done is financial abuse. Predatory caregivers may target vulnerable individuals and manipulate them into participating in unsound investment deals, Ponzi and pyramid schemes, and other fraudulent activities for their own financial enrichment. Theft and forgery are also common forms of financial abuse in the healthcare industry.
Neglect
Another type of abuse is neglect. Nursing home neglect comes in many forms, including neglect of basic needs, personal hygiene, and medical care. Neglect is a systematic pattern of a caregiver’s failure to provide proper and good care to a patient and to protect them from harm.
Signs of Healthcare Abuse
What are some signs of types of abuse in healthcare? The signs of healthcare abuse vary depending on the situation. Too often, elderly and vulnerable individuals are bullied and threatened into silence by the caregivers or medical personnel committing the abuse. Many patients suffer in silence due to fear of retaliation or repercussions, never notifying family, friends, or the authorities about their situation. Furthermore, many caregivers also carefully select their victims, choosing to abuse people with cognitive issues or physical disabilities, making it harder for their victims to consent or speak out against them.
It may be up to you to identify the signs of healthcare abuse and take appropriate measures to get your cherished family members the help they need and deserve. Some of the most common signs of healthcare abuse can include:
- Refusing to cooperate with individual caregivers
- Unexplained bruises, cuts, or burns
- Unexplained falls or broken bones
- Frequent illnesses and infections
- Signs of restraints used on the arms, legs, or body
- Sudden onset of a sexually transmitted infection
- Anxiety and depression
- Suicidal thoughts or actions
- Changes in mood or behavior
- Changes in sleeping patterns
- Changes in eating patterns
- Sudden weight loss
- Bedsores
- Dirty clothing
- Dirty bed linens left unchanged
- Poor hygiene
- Blood on bedsheets or in underwear
- Withdrawing from family or friends
- Withdrawing from favorite activities
- Items of value going missing
- Sudden change in financial situation
- Dehydration and malnutrition
Remember, not all signs of abuse manifest in physical symptoms or changes. Watch closely for distressing changes in mood or personality, which can signal physical, emotional, or sexual abuse.
Where Can You Find Help?
Do you need help advocating for yourself or a family member in a potentially abusive situation? The Illinois Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program (LTCOP) offers assistance to families dealing with abuse in healthcare and nursing home settings.
What does an ombudsman do for the elderly? The LTCOP is an advocacy program that connects elderly adults with an ombudsman in nursing homes. This ombudsman’s job is to resolve problems and issues, improve their quality of life, and address abuse and neglect concerns. A trained community ombudsman for assisted living visits the state’s nursing homes and long-term care facilities to monitor conditions and advocate for residents. Ombudsmen work hard to represent and empower individuals, intervening to address their issues and concerns.
You can find more information on local Illinois LTCOP chapters online. Other outlets that can help against different types of abuse in healthcare and nursing homes include:
If a family member and nursing home resident is in imminent danger, you should always contact local authorities. Additionally, an experienced Chicago nursing home and healthcare abuse attorney will also have the knowledge and resources to help abused individuals in need of advice and support.
A Chicago Nursing Home and Healthcare Abuse Attorney Can Help
Don’t know what to do once you see several types of abuse in healthcare and nursing homes? At Karlin, Fleisher & Falkenberg, LLC, our nursing home abuse lawyers care about your health and well-being. Show abusive caregivers and medical personnel that elder abuse will never be tolerated by contacting our law firm for legal support. Our team of lawyers will advocate for you and pursue meaningful compensation for you or your loved one. Contact us online or call 312-346-8620 today to request a confidential case evaluation.
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How to Report Neglect in a Nursing Home