If you are an adult child caring for an elderly parent, you may find yourself choosing a nursing home for your loved one. Once that choice is made, you should feel confident that your loved one is being cared for properly and treated with compassion and dignity. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Nursing home elder abuse happens every day.
What is Elder Abuse?
Elder abuse refers to a physical, mental, or financial injury to an adult, and it is usually perpetrated by a caregiver or a close friend or family member. If you have witnessed bed sores, bandages, or bruises on your loved one, you may be seeing the signs of elder abuse. Other signs of elder abuse include dehydration or malnutrition, unsanitary living conditions, and errors with an individual’s medication. An older adult walking out of a facility without the staff taking notice can also be a sign of negligent care.
Financial abuse, meaning an individual’s resources were wrongfully used for the profit of someone else, is a common form of elder abuse. This may include using an older adult’s credit cards or personal checks without permission or simply stealing cash. In some cases, a caretaker may forge an elderly person’s signature or steal his or her identity.
A victim of elder abuse might be reluctant to report these issues, particularly if the abuser is a worker on whom he or she relies for care. Sometimes a nursing home patient suffers from dementia or another form of memory loss, and may be uncertain of or unable to recount exact details of abuse or neglect. For this reason, it is important to watch out for signs that your loved one might be suffering abuse. It is also important to report any elder abuse you suspect. Keep in mind that some signs, such as bruising, are time-sensitive. Visit your loved one on a regular basis and be attuned to any signs of neglect or stress along with changes in your loved one’s health. Elder abuse is more common than people think. It is important to report all concerns and issues. Reach out to a professional to learn about your family’s rights.
What to do With Your Nursing Home Complaint
Whether you have experienced abuse or neglect yourself, or you have seen signs of abuse of an elderly loved one, talk to a lawyer. Depending on your individual situation, it may be time to file a claim. In some cases, compensation from a claim can help to cover expenses that your family has accrued as a result of the abuse. Financial compensation can help your family move forward in a few ways:
- Cover the expense of any daily routine adaptations needed due to the abuse.
- Pay medical bills incurred because of an injury.
- Wrongful death compensation.
Next Steps
Whether you have experienced injury or abuse yourself or if you have witnessed signs of neglect or elder abuse of a loved one, it is time for you to call a lawyer. The personal injury lawyers at House Law LLC can help your family to understand what legal action is possible. Aaron House serves clients all over the Kansas City area who have suffered unnecessarily due to someone else’s negligence. Contact us today to discuss your concerns.
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