Millions of Americans trust nursing homes and assisted living facilities to care for their aging parents and loved ones. Unfortunately, that trust is often undeserved. Managers and staff members in countless establishments allow or actively engage in abuse, viewing the elderly as dispensable and forgettable.
As the aging population continues to grow in Flagstaff, West Valley, and Buckeye, AZ, the incidence of abuse will unfortunately increase as well. What are the signs of nursing home abuse and what can you do to stop it? Let the Gill Law Firm advise you and your family.
What Is Considered Nursing Home Abuse?
Abuse takes many forms, including physical, sexual, emotional, psychological, and financial. These are a few common descriptions and examples of both:
- Physical abuse: Inflicting physical harm onto a nursing home patient is considered physical abuse. Beatings, cutting, burns, unreasonable restraints, and denial of basic needs (e.g. food and water) can fall under this category.
- Sexual abuse: This may include anything from serious crimes like rape, sodomy, and molestation to taking pictures and recording video of residents without their permission. Any sort of sexual exploitation or involving a resident in sexual activity against their will may be abuse.
- Emotional abuse: When staff intentionally try to cause residents to be fearful or intimidated, or manipulate their emotions to get what they want, it can be considered emotional abuse.
- Psychological abuse: Similar in nature to emotional abuse, this often results from other types of abusive behavior like isolating patients for long periods of time. Psychological abuse is particularly harmful to residents who have mental conditions or diseases like Alzheimer’s.
- Financial abuse: Exploiting residents for financial gain is financial abuse. Other examples include identity theft, coercing residents to change their wills and life insurance policies, and stealing money and property from them.
Signs of Abuse in Arizona Nursing Homes
If you notice anything unusual about your loved one residing in a nursing home, including changes that cannot be accounted for by the normal aging process or the progression of a disease, it’s important that you speak right away with a nursing home abuse attorney. Some signs and symptoms of abuse that you should look for include:
Physical abuse
- Bedsores
- Malnutrition
- Dehydration
- Burns
- Blisters
- Bruises
- Unexplained broken bones and related injuries
- Changes in behavior
- Poor hygiene
- Sudden or unexplained death
Sexual abuse
- Ripped, torn, or bloody clothing
- Unexplained sexually transmitted diseases
- Bruising in the thighs and groin
- Pain in the pelvic area
- Hesitance to answer questions about potential abuse
- Difficulty sitting or walking
Emotional/psychological abuse
- Anxiety attacks
- Depression
- Social withdrawal
- Decreased enjoyment of life
- Signs of fear or intimidation in the company of nursing home staff
- Sudden changes in mood or behavior
Financial abuse
- Missing money or items of property
- Missing bank statements and other sensitive records
- Abrupt changes to estate planning documents
- A stranger suddenly taking interest in your loved one’s property or finances
- Unexplained financial transactions
- Unpaid bills
What to Do if You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse
If your loved one resides in a nursing home or similar facility in Flagstaff, West Valley, or Buckeye, AZ, and you believe they are being abused, quick action can protect their well-being (and maybe their life). When you retain our law firm, we get to work by investigating what happened, who caused it, and who may be held liable.
Your loved one could be eligible to seek monetary damages for the abuse they have suffered, including compensation for:
- Medical treatments
- Hospitalization
- Medication
- Adaptive medical equipment
- Rehabilitation
- Psychological counseling and therapeutic treatments
- Pain and suffering, emotional distress, and mental distress
- The return of lost property and redressing other financial harms
We take swift legal action by filing lawsuits and seeking injunctions where necessary to prevent further abusive behavior. We also obtain evidence of wrongdoing, including by procuring witness and expert witness testimony. Although it may be possible to settle with the at-fault party out-of-court, we are prepared to take your matter in front of a jury if necessary.
Stop Nursing Home Abuse and Protect Your Loved One
Don’t let your parent or other loved one be a victim of nursing home abuse one more day. By working with us, we can even help prevent other residents from being abused. Reach out to the Gill Law Firm to take legal action now.