Evidence of Nursing Home Abuse

Every day families have to put loved ones in the care of nursing homes or assisted living facilities. And while no one would willingly place their loved ones in an environment that could potentially cause them harm, the sad reality is nursing home abuse is a common occurrence. People place their parents and grandparents in these facilities with the intention to provide them with quality care and an environment free from harm, but many times the exact opposite happens.

Trusting your loved ones with complete strangers is a very difficult thing to do and with so many facility choices out there, it is virtually impossible to tell in just a few visits if it is a safe place for your loved one. There are thousands of reports of nursing home abuse every year, from physical abuse to emotional abuse and trauma.

Elder Abuse Warning Signs

If your loved one in a nursing home does not tell you or someone else of the abuse he or she is enduring out of fear of repercussions, these cases may go unnoticed until it is too late. However, there are some warning signs you can look for that should raise alarm. These include:

• Unexplainable physical injuries


• Staff that refuse to allow you in certain parts of the building


• Staff members not letting you speak with your loved ones alone


• Disoriented actions due to overmedication


• Signs of withdrawal because of recent trauma

Suspecting or finding out your loved one is being abused at his or her care facility is extremely difficult, and you may not know where to turn. It can be difficult to make a case without proof, so you may need the help of a legal professional.