Signs & Symptoms of Nursing Home Abuse

The following are some of the early warning signs of nursing home abuse. Many cases are thought to go unreported because a loved one may fear disclosing information about their treatment or many simply may not have the physical and/or mental capabilities to. If you witness any of these warning signs you should contact an attorney that specializes in nursing home neglect. They will have the resources needed to conduct an independent research to determine if, in fact, your loved one is being abused. What may seem to be a minor signal may be the result of a much greater problem.

Warning Signs

First, look for physical abuse such as, bed sores, rapid weight gain or loss, frequent or unusual fractures and breaks, malnutrition or dehydration, over medicated, arks on the wrists (restraints?), lack of activity, untrained staff, isolated in their room, and/or bruises or other marks on the body.

NOTE: Your loved one may not tell you about because they may be too frightened, they may be threatened by the abuser, they may think that the abuse is normal, they may not even be aware they are being abused. And finally, they may feel they deserve to be punished.

Other signs may come from the abusers themselves. They (the abusers) may not call when your loved one is taken to the hospital for treatments. The staff may not be keeping you informed of what is going on with your loved on. They can't explain odd marks or bruises on the elder. Frequent emergency room visits, and not contacting you when the latter occurs.

As always, if you are suspicious, call an attorney that specializes in Elder and Long Term Healthcare Law!

Signs of Abuse

1. Unexplained bruises, cuts, burns, sprains, or fractures in various stages of heali

2. Bedsores or frozen joints

3. Unexplained venereal disease or genital infections; vaginal or anal bleeding; torn, stained, or blooding underclothing

4. Sudden changes in behavior

5. Staff refusing to allow visitors to see resident or delays in allowing visitors to see resident

6. Staff not allowing resident to be alone with visitor

7. Resident being kept in an over-medicated state

8. Loss of resident's possessions

9. Sudden large withdrawals from bank accounts or changes in banking practices

10. Abrupt changes in will or other financial documents problem

A Brighter Future

After years of providing poor elder care, it seems nursing homes are finally being held accountable. A flood of lawsuits have been filed across the country and grieving families are receiving compensation for pain, suffering and the untimely death of loved ones.

If your elderly loved one has been neglected, abused, or injured while in the care of a nursing home or other healthcare facility, contact our attorneys today. You have legal rights that not only protect your family, but others as well.

NURSING HOME ABUSE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

- How Prevalent is nursing home abuse and neglect?

There are 17,000 nursing homes across this country. 1.5 million elderly and disabled Americans reside in nursing homes. According to a congressional report prepared by aides to Rep. Henry Waxman (D. Calif.) State inspectors cited nearly 5,300 nursing homes between January 1999 to January 2001. In more than 1,600 of these homes - 1 in 10 of the nation's nursing residences - the violations were "serious enough to cause actual harm to residents or to place the residents in immediate jeopardy of death or serious injury." The most common violation involved failure to "properly investigate" according to the report. The percentage of homes cited for abuse has doubled since 1996.

- What should I do if I suspect elder abuse?

Investigate at once. Begin collecting facts. The nursing home will not cooperate in this process. Gather all the material you can so that documents cannot be changed. You may seek the assistance of the government, private attorneys and/or support and advocacy groups.

- What about the costs in pursing litigation?

Most attorneys (including Munley, Munley & Cartwright) will handle your case on a contingent fee arrangement. This means the lawyers will be paid a percentage of the recovery in the event of a settlement or judgment. Munley, Munley & Cartwright will also pay all the advance costs with the understanding that they will recoup such costs only in the event of a recovery. Therefore, you will be able to secure our representation with having to pay any attorney's fees or expenses out of one's own pocket.

- How soon should I make a claim?

A potential claimant should always seek the advice of an attorney without delay. There could be many deadlines to meet, claims against governmental entities may require that the entity be put on notice much earlier than the statute of limitations period. A medical and legal analysis must be done prior to filing a lawsuit, so don't wait or the lawyer might not have enough time to investigate the claim before it's expiration.

Signs & Symptoms of Nursing Home Abuse