Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Psychological Abuse in Nursing Homes


When a family must make the difficult decision to place their elderly family member in a nursing home, they expect that he or she will be well taken care of and treated with the utmost dignity and respect in their new place of residence. However, the unfortunate truth is that some residents experience abuse from caretakers in various different forms. Though physical abuse is the easiest to detect, psychological abuse may even more harmful and long-lasting.

The individuals who threaten, manipulate and harass senior citizens living in their nursing homes should be held accountable for their damaging behavior. The best way to make sure that justice is served for your loved one is by bringing this person to a court of law. If this kind of abuse has occurred and can be proven, your loved one may be entitled to financial compensation under the law. In order to increase your chances of a favorable result in court, it would be best to hire an experienced attorney to represent your case. That way, you make sure you claim is presented in an accurate, persuasive manner and help your family member receive the funds to which they are entitled.

Psychological abuse can take many forms and it is important to identify these behaviors early to act swiftly before more damage is done. The following behaviors may be considered abuse:

  • Threats


  • Inappropriate sexual comments


  • Name-calling


  • Verbal harassment


  • Verbal manipulation


  • Humiliation


  • Intimidation


  • Isolation


  • Embarrassment or shame

No one deserves to live in an environment where they are not respected. Even elderly individuals who need substantial care to accomplish even minor daily tasks should be treated with dignity. When this is not done, you may be able to pursue legal action against those who have wronged you or your family member.

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