What You Should Know About Nursing Home Abuse

When you place a loved one in the care of a nursing home, you expect your loved one to receive quality care and friendly treatment. The last thing you expect is that your loved one may be mistreated by his or her caregivers. Unfortunately, there are many cases of physical, emotional, and sexual elder abuse in nursing homes throughout Georgia. 
If you suspect that your loved one has been the victim of abuse in a nursing home, it is important that you know their rights and how to hold the institution accountable. Your loved one may also be entitled to financial compensation. Filing a claim for nursing home abuse can bring attention to a serious problem and prevent other nursing home residents from experiencing a similar situation.
Georgia Nursing Home Abuse
Several studies have shown that nursing home employees harm residents in the following ways:

• Physical Abuse: Lack of attention, administering medications incorrectly, or poorly nourishing the resident. Caregivers are responsible for any actions such as these that cause bodily injury or pain to the resident.
• Belligerence: Behavior that shows antagonism on the part of caregivers towards residents, such as being aggressive in exercising their authority and control.
• Psychological Cruelty: Humiliating, intimidating, and verbally insulting the resident. Such actions cause emotional and mental suffering.
• Financial Malpractice: Behavior that results in theft of the resident’s finances, whether in salary or property.

Signs of Neglect Towards the Elderly
Did you know that thousands of assisted living homes in the United States injure their residents or expose them to serious risks due to the offensive behavior of their employees?
Today, the law requires us to take action when discovering abusive behavior towards the elderly. However, it can be difficult to identify these cases since the elderly are often scared to admit mistreatment for fear that their caregivers will find out. Therefore, we must all be aware of any signs of abuse from our elderly loved ones. These signs may include the following:

• Poor Hygiene: Most nursing homes have contracts that ensure they provide basic personal hygiene to residents. This includes bathing assistance, dental cleaning, hair care, and more. 
• Malnutrition: Malnutrition and dehydration occur when caregivers fail to meet the nutritional needs of the elderly. This may cause weight loss, recurring infections, and ulcers.
• Inadequate Living Conditions: The law requires that every nursing home provides safe and clean facilities for its residents. Negligence can be noticed when the house deteriorates to the point that it is unsafe and causes risks for the elderly.
• Seclusion: If residents are ignored and isolated by caregivers, this may result in low self-esteem and is considered emotional abuse.
• Incorrect Medications: It is common for residents of households to need daily medications to survive. Caregivers cause major damage by making mistakes and providing their medications incorrectly.
• Physical Injuries: Unexplained wounds, broken bones, or any serious injury in the elderly should be considered a possible sign of negligence on the part of caregivers.

Contact an Attorney Today
If your family member has been injured at the hands of an extended care facility, it is critical that you seek a lawyer immediately to protect his or her rights. Keep in mind that you may have a short period of time to take legal action. Contact the attorneys at the Law Offices of Jonathan R. Brockman today.