What Are The Types Of Abuse In Nursing Homes?
Nursing home residents deserve to receive the best care possible. Unfortunately, the reality is that a lot of nursing home residents are victims of abuse. Elderly residents are particularly more vulnerable to nursing home abuse. However, anyone can fall victim to nursing home abuse.
Nursing home abuse comes in many forms. Regardless of the type, if you or a loved one has been subjected to nursing home abuse, an attorney can help you seek justice and receive the compensation you deserve for the harm caused. In this article, we discuss the different types of nursing home abuse.
Types of Abuse in Nursing Homes
There are seven types of nursing home abuse. They are;
- Physical abuse
- Abandonment
- Financial abuse
- Emotional abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Neglect
- Self-neglect
Physical Abuse
Many people know about this type of nursing home abuse and can notice it easily. This form of abuse involves intentionally, negligently, or recklessly inflicting bodily harm or pain on a nursing home resident. Examples of acts that constitute physical abuse include;
- Hitting
- Kicking
- Pushing or shoving
According to studies, more than 24% of nursing home residents experience at least one instance of physical abuse yearly.
Common signs of nursing home physical abuse include;
- Broken bones
- Bleeding
- Bruises
Abandonment
This form of abuse involves a nursing home resident being deserted by a caregiver. If a nursing home resident is abandoned, it can result in psychological and/or physical harm. For example, a resident who is abandoned can suffer physical harm if they are unable to care for themselves or if they fall.
Financial Abuse
Nursing home financial abuse can occur in many ways. This form of abuse generally involves stealing money or property from a nursing home resident or using manipulation to get money or property from a resident.
Emotional Abuse
It is said that among all the types of nursing home abuse, this is the most common. A study that WHO conducted in 2020 found that almost one-third of nursing home staff members admitted to abusing residents emotionally. Emotional abuse happens when someone insults a nursing home resident or uses threats to control them. Nursing home residents who are subjected to emotional abuse may experience depression and anxiety.
Sexual Abuse
Contrary to what many might think, sexual abuse is not limited to rape. It includes any form of non-consensual sexual contact. Forms of sexual abuse include, among many others, inappropriate sexual communications, unwanted sexual advances, and showing a resident sexually-explicit pictures or videos. Often, this form of abuse is perpetrated against those residents that are disabled and unable to give consent.
Neglect
Neglect is the lack of attention to a person. It can take many forms, including but not limited to the following;
- Not providing necessary care such as water, food, and clothing
- Failing to help a resident with their medication
- Failing to reposition immobile residents to prevent bed sores
Self-neglect
According to the NCEA, self-neglect occurs when a resident threatens their health or safety. However, even though self-neglect involves a resident harming themselves, causing a nursing home resident to engage in self-neglect is considered abuse.
Contact a London Nursing Home Negligence Attorney
If you or a loved one is a victim of nursing home abuse, reach out to our London nursing home negligence attorneys at Cessna & George Law Firm to get professional legal help.
