Nursing home abuse can take many forms, and it’s not always physical. It’s easy to tell something’s wrong when the patient has bed sores, bruises, broken bones, or other signs of physical pain. It’s much harder to tell what’s going on when they are being emotionally, verbally, or financially abused. Since patients are so dependent on their caretakers, this can cause a great deal of psychological or financial harm.
If you have a loved one in an Ohio nursing home, it behooves you to watch out for these signs.
Psychological Abuse
Psychological abuse can take two broad forms: verbal and non-verbal. Verbal abuse might include name calling, yelling at the patient, insulting them, threatening the patient, or blaming them for their physical or mental problems.
Non-verbal abuse is even harder to discern; especially if you don’t get to visit your loved one often. Thanks to COVID-19, many people haven’t seen their relatives and elderly friends for over a year—which makes it quite difficult to tell whether they’re being non-verbally abused. Non-verbal abuse might include isolating the patient from their family or friends, ignoring them and their requests for assistance, or keeping their assistive devices away from them.
Financial Abuse
Financially abuse is especially pernicious. Some unethical nursing home workers may try to gain access to a patient’s funds, whether they steal and forge financial documents or take personal goods. They may also try to manipulate the resident into giving them control over their money, whether that’s putting them in the will, giving them power of attorney or simply taking a cut of the patient’s bank withdrawals.
What to Watch Out For
Keeping a close eye on your loved one’s bank statements can be a good way to monitor their financial situation, especially if you are on the accounts or have power of attorney. Watch for unusual activity and be sure to ask questions if something seems suspicious.
Psychological abuse can manifest in behavioral changes, like a sudden drop in self-esteem, a new tendency to self-harm, or appearing afraid of a particular employee. They may withdraw from social activities, fail to answer their phones, or exhibit dramatic weight gain or loss.
If you notice any of these signs, it’s time to investigate further. Your loved one may be the victim of nursing home abuse. If you believe this to be the case, call an attorney as soon as possible.
Contact a Nursing Home Abuse Attorney Right Away
Older adults are some of the most vulnerable residents of Ohio, and they deserve to live peacefully in their nursing homes and assisted living facilities. If you have an elderly loved one who may have been the victim of nursing home negligence, I will help ensure that we hold the facility accountable. I’ll Make Them Pay!® Call me at 877.614.9524 to learn more about your legal options.
