When you place your loved one in a nursing home or care facility, you assume that everyone there has your relative’s best interests in mind. When you find out that your loved one has instead been subject to nursing home abuse and neglect, it can be infuriating and confusing. What do you do? You talk to our experienced Hartford County personal injury attorneys and hold all liable parties accountable.
What Are Some Types of Nursing Home Abuse?
Nursing home abuse can manifest in many different ways. We have seen cases of:
- Assault and battery
- Sexual abuse
- Purposeful isolation from other patients and people
- Unnecessary physical restraint
- Medication abuse
- Lack of care for existing medical issues
- Financial abuse
- Deprivation of water or food
No one should have to experience this type of mistreatment. We will do our best to help you hold abusive and negligent caretakers accountable.
What Should I Look Out For?
In cases like these, there are often signs that something is not right. Trust your instincts and look out for things like:
Injuries: Occasional injuries are not that odd for an older person. However, if you notice that your relative is seemingly always injured and that you cannot get a straight answer about where the injuries came from, that is an issue.
Personality changes: If your loved one has become more reserved, wants to be isolated, or has developed odd habits like rocking, this can be a sign of abuse or neglect.
Weight changes: A sudden loss of weight can indicate malnutrition or deprivation of food.
Overzealous caretakers: A caretaker who will not leave you alone with your loved one is often a walking red flag.
Unsanitary conditions: If you notice that your loved one is being kept in unsanitary conditions, that is another form of abuse.
Odd financial transactions: An older person can also be subject to financial abuse while they are in a nursing home. Any weird financial transactions should be a cause for alarm.
What Should I Do If I Suspect Abuse?
You need to take steps to protect your loved one and build a case against the nursing home. You should:
- Take pictures of any injuries
- Inform the nursing home of your suspicions so that they cannot deny knowledge of an issue
- Get your loved one the care that they need
- Keep copies of medical bills and any other records pertaining to the abuse
- Remove your loved one from the facility if necessary
- Talk to a nursing home abuse attorney
If someone caused your loved one harm, it is time to hold them accountable.
Contact a Nursing Home Abuse Attorney
If you suspect abuse, you should act quickly to protect your loved one and build a case against the abuser. Contact the legal team that cares at the Law Office of Marc N. Needelman. We will do everything that we can to make things right for you and your family.
