10 signs that your loved one is a victim of elder abuse
“10 signs that your loved one is a victim of elder abuse”
Elder abuse is the neglect, mistreatment, exploitation, or harming of elderly patients in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, or home care environments. The most common types of abuse are physical/sexual abuse, emotional abuse, financial abuse, and abandonment – all are illegal under state and federal law, whether intentional or not. Generally, the caregiver is to blame for such elder abuse, although the nursing home facility may be deemed liable, as well.
Elder abuse is now a shockingly common crime. In fact, thousands of residents in nursing homes are mistreated each year, and as the number of seniors under care steadily rises, so does the rate of abuse. Reasons for this increase range from under-qualified, under-trained, and overworked staff members to the fact that many victims are either physically unable to or are too afraid to report mistreatment that is occurring in their nursing homes. It is often left up to loved ones to notice signs of nursing home abuse or neglect and ultimately take action.
Physical Elder abuse:
Common indicators of physical elder abuse:
• Bedsores
• Burns
• General poor skin conditions
• Broken bones or fractures
• Dehydration or malnourishment
• Weight loss
• Sprains, dislocations, and internal injuries
• Bruises, black eyes, lacerations, or welts
• Sudden change in behavior
• Signs of restraint
Psychological and emotional elder abuse:
Psychological and emotional elder abuse typically includes threats, humiliation, verbal assaults, isolation, and any type of emotional pain or suffering inflicted on a senior.
The following are common indicators of psychological and emotional elder abuse:
• Agitation or anger
• Withdrawal
• Depression
• Confusion
Elder Neglect:
Elder neglect is any failure to fulfill duties regarding or obligations to a senior. Nursing home abuse and neglect generally includes the failure to pay for necessary care or failure to provide food, water, shelter, medicine, clothing, and other necessities for daily living in nursing homes.
Common indicators of Nursing Home Neglect:
• Dehydration or malnutrition
• Untreated bedsores
• Poor personal hygiene
• Untreated medical conditions
• Unsanitary living conditions
Financial Elder abuse:
Financial elder abuse is the theft or misuse of an elder's funds, property, or assets. Examples of this include stealing an older person's money or possessions, forging his signature, cashing his checks without authorization, and misusing guardianship, conservatorship, or power of attorney.
Common indicators of financial elder abuse:
• Changes in banking practice
• Unauthorized ATM withdrawals
• Addition of names to bank signature card
• Sudden changes in a will
• Disappearance of funds or possessions
• Unpaid bills despite adequate financial resources
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