Preventing Nursing Home Abuse

Nursing home abuse and elder abuse can take many forms. Elder abuse is defined as the infliction of physical, verbal, mental, sexual, or financial harm on an elderly adult. Abuse can also take the form of neglect from a nursing home caregiver. Nursing home abuse can be detrimental to an older person’s life. If you have a family member or loved one in a nursing home, there are steps you can take to help prevent nursing home abuse.

Before we discuss the steps to take, it’s essential to understand the signs of elder abuse, which include:

• Unexplained injuries (cuts, bruises, broken bones)
• Ripped clothing, blood in underwear
• Behavioral changes (depression, anxiety, insomnia)
• Sudden or drastic weight loss
• Poor hygiene
• Unexplained bank account withdrawals
• Unpaid bills, forged checks, changes to wills and bank accounts

Many abuse victims live with embarrassment or fear when physical, mental, or sexual abuse occurs. If you think your loved one has been a victim of abuse, it’s essential to let them know they have people who care about them and can help. Also, it’s critical to emphasize that the abuse is not at all their fault. Some victims may blame themselves for the abuse they endured.

Having open and honest communication with elderly loved ones is essential to preventing and intervening in abuse situations. Creating a nurturing environment of trust and safety is key.

While there is, unfortunately, no guaranteed method of preventing abuse, there are strategies you can employ to protect your elderly loved ones.

The National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) outlines the following prevention strategies:

• Public Awareness: This can help elderly individuals understand the risks of abuse and neglect, identify problem areas in the community, and clear up misconceptions about laws, policies, and more.
• Advance Planning: The elderly and their loved ones can use advance planning tools to clarify the elder’s wishes if they are unable to do so. These tools, which include living wills and power of attorney designation, can help reduce the risk of financial exploitation and ensure that the elder is cared for.
• Addressing Ageism: Ageism, a form of discrimination, contributes to misconceptions about the elderly and often leads to their marginalization.
• Background Checks: Tools like criminal background checks, arrest records, and abuse registries are effective tools in helping prevent elder abuse. Before you ask a nursing home to care for your loved one, look at the staff’s background, training, and credentials.

The most effective way to prevent elder abuse is to be proactive. Family members must remain active participants in the lives of their elderly family members. This makes recognizing warning signs of abuse easier and addressing concerns before an issue arises.

What to Do If You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse

If you suspect that your loved one is a victim of elder abuse, contact the experienced elder abuse attorneys at Karlin, Fleisher & Falkenberg, LLC to learn more about your legal rights and options. Call 312-346-8620 today to schedule a free and confidential consultation.

If you suspect your loved one has been the victim of elder abuse, consider asking them the following questions:

• Do you feel safe at the nursing home?
• Have you been threatened by anyone at the nursing home?
• Have you been hit, slapped, punched, or threatened with physical force?
• Were you asked to lend money to someone?
• Have you been touched in a sexual way?
• Does anyone make you feel afraid?
• Have you received phone calls asking for your credit card, social security number, or other personal information?

Steps you can take to prevent nursing home abuse include:

Keep in contact with your elders.

When you stay in touch, it allows you to better care for your elderly family member and be more aware of changes that may indicate abuse.

Do not isolate elders. 

This can cause depression and loneliness that will increase the chances of abuse.

Make sure elders stay active.

Staying active can prolong an elder’s life and minimize the chances that they will be vulnerable to abuse.

Don’t let elders live with a person who is known to be violent. 

If an individual has a history of violence, they are likely to repeat that behavior.

Be wary of caregivers in need of financial help or those who have drug dependency issues.

These people may manipulate the elderly or steal money.

Make sure they are aware of their financial affairs.

While elderly people may require the help of a family member in managing their money, they ultimately should be the one in control of finances, granted they are in sound mind.

Don’t allow a nursing home caretaker to alter your loved one’s will.

This puts them at risk for financial exploitation.

Inform elders to be wary of phone, mail, and online solicitations.

These may be scams designed to take advantage of the elderly.

If you or someone you love is concerned that they have become a victim of elder abuse, discuss these concerns with an experienced elder abuse attorney as soon as possible. Your elderly loved one may be entitled to financial compensation for the physical and mental harm they suffered. An attorney can help you identify the liable parties and file a lawsuit that will seek the maximum compensation that your family member deserves.

When you suspect your loved one has been the victim of elderly abuse or neglect, seek medical attention immediately. Social workers in the nursing home can help vulnerable adults, and adult protective services can investigate and have the legal authority to intervene in cases where they are in danger. Police may also be involved when criminal activities or assault is suspected.

Contact an Elder Abuse Attorney Today

At Karlin, Fleisher & Falkenberg, LLC, our skilled and compassionate elderly abuse lawyers understand how traumatic and challenging elder abuse situations are. We will work tirelessly to put a halt to the abuse your loved one has endured and help them recover all damages associated with their pain and suffering. If you suspect that your loved one is being abused, or if you have evidence of abuse, taking a proactive approach will help lead to the best outcome. Contact Karlin, Fleisher & Falkenberg, LLC today at 312-346-8620 so we can get to work on your case.