nursing home abuse

When an Oklahoma family helps a loved one move into a nursing home, it’s because they know that they can no longer provide the skilled medical care and close personal attention their loved one needs. Family members do their best to choose nursing homes carefully. Since over 40 percent of people over the age of 65 will need nursing home care at some point, according to the National Center on Elder Abuse, the decision is a critical one.

Tragically, nursing home neglect and abuse is on the rise. According to the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA), one in three nursing homes nationwide were cited for violations of federal care standards in a single recent year. Ten percent of those cited had committed violations that caused residents serious harm.

Official statistics may underreport the problem, however. In a study, 44 percent of residents report abuse, and 95 percent report nursing home neglect or seeing another patient neglected. Over 50 percent of staff admitted to abusing or neglecting at least one patient in the previous year.

Nursing home neglect and abuse cannot be ignored. If you suspect abuse or neglect, act swiftly to contact the authorities and get in touch with an experienced McAlester, Tulsa, and also covering Oklahoma and Arkansas nursing home abuse lawyers at Edwards & Patterson Law who can protect your loved one’s legal rights. Contact our injury law firm today for a free consultation.

What Is Nursing Home Neglect or Abuse?

Abuse or neglect of nursing home residents can take many forms. The most common include physical abuse, sexual abuse, psychological abuse, financial exploitation, and nursing home neglect.

  • Physical abuse may include pushing, hitting, pinching, shoving, slapping, or other physical assaults upon a nursing home resident. It might also include the improper use of restraints or medical devices in a way that deliberately inflicts unnecessary discomfort, pain, or harm. The NCEA estimates that 29 percent of all reported nursing home abuse cases involve physical abuse.
  • Sexual abuse includes any touching of a sexual nature, including groping, rape, and other forms of sexual assault. It can also include verbal harassment or blackmail in which the elderly person is threatened with worse harm if he or she does not submit to the abuser’s sexual advances. About 7 percent of all reported abuse cases involve sexual abuse, according to NCEA – but, due to its sensitive nature, sexual abuse may be the most underreported of all abuse categories.
  • Medical workers threatening elderly senior.Psychological abuse can be mental, emotional, or verbal. Staff who shout at residents, talk down to them or play “head games” to demean or control them all engage in psychological abuse of those they are supposed to protect. While only 21 percent of reported abuse cases described psychological abuse, according to the NCEA, 51 percent of certified nursing assistants in one study admitted to psychologically abusing residents by shouting at them or insulting them in the past year.
  • Financial exploitation, also called “financial abuse,” is a growing problem for elderly Americans. Financial abuse occurs when another person uses a nursing home resident’s money, assets, or valuables for their own gain. Stealing cash or jewelry, identity theft, filing false insurance claims, or talking an elderly person into signing away assets can all be forms of financial exploitation.
  • Neglect encompasses all situations in which a resident’s needs are ignored. It includes both physical needs like water, food, hygiene, and medication and mental and emotional needs like companionship, conversation, and support. Severe cases of nursing home abuse or neglect can lead to severe injuries or even death. Neglect complaints make up about 14 percent of all nursing home complaints – but nearly all nursing home residents have seen neglect occur.

What are Signs of Neglect or Abuse in a Nursing Home?

Signs of nursing home neglect and abuse can be difficult to spot. Start by watching for clues that your loved one is angry, tense, or fearful near caregivers. The “mood” of the room may change when a certain staff member walks in, or staff may try to prevent you from sitting alone with your loved one, fearful of what might be revealed.

Lonely senior woman with walking cane crying in the window.In addition, look for any change in the personality or behavior of your loved one. Anxiety, depression, anger, moodiness, or seeming withdrawn can all be signs that something is wrong. Treat changes in behavior or mood as communication from your loved one and dig deeper.

Additional signs that can point to specific types of abuse include:

  • Physical abuse – Unexplained injuries, including bruises, scars, broken or dislocated bones, reports of drug overdoses or under-doses, broken glasses or equipment, or a caregiver’s refusal to let you be alone with your loved one.
  • Emotional abuse – Any threatening, belittling, or controlling behavior from a caregiver toward the resident, or signs that the resident is in mental distress, like rocking, chewing, sucking, or mumbling to themselves.
  • Sexual abuse – Signs of injury to the breasts or genitals, like bruising or torn or bloody underclothing, or unexplained disease or injury in the genital region. The behavior might be especially withdrawn if the person feels ashamed or is being emotionally abused into silence.
  • Financial abuse – Unexplained withdrawals or charges on accounts, missing personal property or cash, or financial decisions about assets (like giving away property) that have no clear need – such as selling land when the money is not needed to pay bills.
  • Neglect – Unusual weight loss, malnutrition, or dehydration can indicate neglect. Also, look for pressure sores where the resident’s body comes into contact with the bed or chair. Unsanitary living conditions, poor hygiene, or regularly missed medications can also indicate neglect.