Types of Nursing Home Neglect

Nursing home neglect is a widespread problem throughout the United States today and has tragic consequences for the emotional health of the elderly victim and their family or loved ones. If you for suspect that you or a loved one have been the victim of nursing home abuse or neglect then you must take the proper steps immediately to further protect yourself or your loved one.

Report the abuse to responsible parties such as patient advocates, social workers, charge nurses, administrators or directors of nursing both verbally and in writing to document all incidents. Further document the situation by photographing injuries are consequences and crafting a written statement detailing all aspects of the abuse or neglect. Finally contact a professional nursing home neglect lawyer to learn more about the rights of the abused and the methods and to rectify the damage caused through both monetary compensation and legal actions preventing the abuser from harming others. Lawyers who handle nursing home neglect, abuse and negligence are best able to navigate the complexities of lawsuits filed against nursing home employees, physicians, nurses or facilities.

If unsure whether your experience is technically nursing home neglect compare it to these basic categories of abuse and neglect and assisted living facilities.

The number one type of elder abuse is called harmful neglect. Harmful neglect is quantifiable, physical injury or death that is unreasonable given the circumstances. For example, a well and-cared for resident in a healthcare facility should not have bedsores, medically unexplained weight loss or dehydration or questionable cuts bruises or other injuries. If your loved one exhibits any of these signs, then it is quite likely he or she was a victim of nursing home neglect.

Assault and battery is the second category of nursing home abuse. Assault and battery may include threats of force and unauthorized actual force or physical, chemical and other restraints and abuses to the resident.

Criminal sexual conduct is another form of elder abuse which occurs when an employee of the care facility engages in any form of sexual contact with the elderly resident, whether verbal or physical.

Finally the embezzlement or theft of financial or physical assets of the resident is a common abuse which may come in the form of loans or presents from the resident to the employee, missing jewelry or credit cards or the use of personal financial information to obtain more credit cards.