Nursing Home Abuse: More Than Just Physical Violence

In the twilight of life, due to a deteriorating health, it often becomes necessary that more consistent and steady care and attention is given. While many would love to supply this to their loved ones once they reach this stage in their life, work schedules and the demands of modern living can often make it impossible. When this occurs, for many, nursing home facilities can provide the answer that is required.

Many nursing homes are reputable and trustworthy places in which loved ones in their golden years can receive experienced medical attention, companionship and care to ensure their continuing health and well-being. Unfortunately, this level of care does not extend to every single facility.

In fact, many fall short of the promise that they make and can deteriorate to being downright abusive. They can be a hotbed of elder abuse, leaving their victims to suffer from such things as contusions, lacerations, and other wounds from assault and physical attacks. This violence can also extend to being confined and being physically restricted.

Does nursing home abuse only incorporate physical violence? Actually, not at all. While this is the most prominent form of abuse and the one that is most easily seen, there are several other forms of abuse that can cause just as much, if not more pain in the lives of the victim.

Emotional abuse is extremely damaging to the victim. This can be manifested in the forms of threatening, intimidating, humiliating and using the victim as a scapegoat, and also can be seen in isolating, ignoring and neglecting the victim. The damages sustained from acts of this type are devastating; many of the elderly are no longer capable of standing up for themselves and end up suffering in silence.

Another form of abuse is that of sexual abuse. Personnel and staff in the nursing home can use their position of power in a way that leaves their patients completely vulnerable. Any form of contact with the patients that was not explicitly consented to can be boiled down to sexual abuse. This can be sexual acts committed upon the victim or forcing them to commit the sexual actions. It can also be something such as forcing them to watch pornographic material.

If you suspect that your loved has recently been the victim of such abuse, and you have begun to notice some telltale warning signs, you should not waste another moment. Regardless of whether they are suffering physical violence, emotional trauma, sexual abuse or even if their finances are being exploited, a personal injury lawyer should be contacted immediately.

Steps can be taken to hold the responsible parties liable for their actions and claims can be filed to fight for the just and deserved compensation. Damages that have been sustained should not be suffered without relief. No matter if you are fighting for compensation to cover medical treatment for injuries incurred, if you are looking to compensation for the pain and suffering, or even if you are looking to cover funeral costs in a wrongful death case, the legal assistance of an injury attorney is a priceless asset that should not be ignored. The sooner that you receive the legal aid of a knowledgeable lawyer, the sooner steps can be taken to seek a successful resolution of the case.