Types of Nursing Home Abuse

There are many different types of abuse that may occur in a nursing home, and you should be aware of all of them. Some types of abuse are verbal, but there is also emotional abuse. In verbal abuse, staff members yell at residents or threaten to physically harm them. This kind of abuse can cause debilitating symptoms, including depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. Other forms of abuse are physical and financial. Financial abuse includes taking money from residents or misusing the money they've earned. Another type is sexual abuse, which may involve forcing residents to undress or viewing pornographic material.

There are also unintentional forms of nursing home abuse. Nursing homes that lack adequate staffing or training may neglect residents. An example is a nurse who forgot to give a resident his or her medication one day. However, these types of abuse are more serious, as they often involve a pattern of neglect over an extended period of time. Another type of abuse in nursing homes is financial abuse. This involves intentionally manipulating residents in order to gain financial control over them. These abusers often make themselves familiar with residents, and will often befriend them.

Physical abuse can range from bruising and cuts to broken bones. Sometimes staff members may lie to cover up the abuse. One case in Colorado involved a woman with Alzheimer's disease who had several fractures and cuts in her face. Her family was told by staff that the woman had scratched her face with a coat hanger, but police later found that the caregiver was a convicted felon. Emotional abuse can also include yelling at residents, isolating them from family members, and influencing their decisions.

Financial abuse in a nursing home entails using a resident's assets without permission. This could include forging a signature, taking cash, or fraudulently using an online account. Other forms of financial abuse involve stealing from residents and billing them for services they didn't receive.

Another common type of nursing home abuse is sexual abuse. This type of abuse is particularly troubling for elderly patients. Nursing homes are legally obligated to keep their residents safe from sexual abuse. Non-consensual touching and forced nudity can lead to STDs, and it is important to report such abuse as soon as it happens.

Physical abuse and emotional abuse in nursing homes is the most visible type of abuse, but there are also other types that can be just as harmful. Emotional abuse can lead to physical illness, and financial abuse can result in financial harm. A victim of nursing home abuse may be entitled to financial compensation.

In addition to physical abuse, neglect may occur as well. Neglect is often as detrimental to a person as physical abuse. It happens when the nursing home staff does not do their job. Neglect can include failing to give the person food they need, failure to provide proper medical care, or failing to prevent falls.