Signs of Nursing Home Abuse

The abuse that takes place in Nursing homes does not take only one form. Abuse can include Physical Abuse, Emotional Abuse, Neglect, and Other Warning Signs.

Physical Abuse: Physical Abuse can be a serious problem in nursing facilities that are understaffed and where caretakers do not have proper training and experience. Some of the signs of physical abuse can include:

• Unexplained bruising, cuts, or abrasions.
• Bilateral bruising (bruising on opposite sides of the body)
• "Wrap around" bruising (bruising that usually encircles the arm)
• Elderly person complains that caretakers use unreasonable force
• Caretakers are observed either giving more medication than prescribed or withholding needed medication.
• Elderly residents do not receive food and water on a regular schedule
• Residents are confined to their rooms
• Use of physical or chemical restraints that are not authorized by the physician

Emotional Abuse: Emotional Abuse is often harder to detect than physical abuse. Emotional abuse is especially hard to detect in patients that may be suffering from neurological conditions associated with aging such as Alzheimer's disease or dementia. Emotional abuse can be expressed in the following ways:

  • The elderly person seems upset or on edge
  • The elderly person seems unusually helpless or angry
  • The elderly person is very sensitive to their personal space
  • The elderly person exhibits a change in their behavior toward family and friends including insulting, threatening, or ignoring visitors
  • The elderly person is not allowed to speak to you without have a caretaker present

Neglect: Neglect occurs when a nursing home fails to meet its responsibility to provide quality care to a vulnerable elderly patient. Some signs of neglect are:

  • Caretakers fail to recognize signs of dehydration or malnutrition
  • Facilities are unsanitary
  • Little or no attention is paid to the personal hygiene of residents
  • Bedsores are left untreated
  • Staff fail to notify doctors when residents may have a medical problem
  • Caretakers are assigned to too many residents
  • Residents are left unsupervised
Signs of Abuse

Nursing Home Abuse is something that often goes unreported. If you, or someone you know is suffering abuse, Contact a Los Angeles Nursing Home Abuse Attorney.