Signs of Nursing Home Abuse

When we make the difficult decision to move our loved ones into nursing homes, we always fear for the worst. The statistics are hard to ignore – nursing home abuse has been a huge problem in our society for some time now. Sadly, nursing home abuse is all too common, given the stress put on nurses. Workers are often paid very low wages, work long hours, and are improperly trained.

Many times, loved ones may not be able to physically tell us if there is a problem. Other times, they are ashamed or feel they can “suck it up” and deal with the problem themselves. The truth is, no one deserves to be mistreated, and they don’t have to put up with abuse.

There are certainly visual signs that a loved one is being physically abused. Check for bruises, scratches, and other marks. Other signs may not be as blatant. Sometimes, abuse comes from neglect. If a patient has recently lost or gained a significant amount of weight, a nurse may be neglecting their nutrition. Check to see that linens are being changed frequently, as well as clothing.

Physical abuse and neglect are tragically not the only forms of nursing home abuse. Emotional, sexual and financial abuse is also common in nursing homes. Has your loved one become listless and withdrawn? Have any of their personal items gone missing? Have there been any dramatic changes in their finances?

These are all important questions to ask to discover if nursing home abuse is occurring.