If you have a loved one living in a nursing home, you may have started to notice them acting differently. You might see them more withdrawn during your visits or maybe they get quiet when certain nursing home staff members are nearby. On the other hand, you may have also noticed more apparent signs that something is wrong, such as poor hygiene or bruises. When you suspect that your loved one has been the victim of nursing home abuse, it is time to seek help from a law team you can trust, like Disparti Law Group. It can be devastating to discover that your loved one is being abused in their nursing home, which is why it is imperative that you get legal help quickly. However, if you are not familiar with nursing home/elder abuse, you may not be sure of what to look out for.
- Emotional Elder Abuse. If your loved one is in a situation where his or her caretakers are threatening or ignoring them, then it is possible they are suffering from emotional abuse. Some signs to look out for are when your loved one appears to be afraid of their caregivers, they seem to be isolated from friends or family members, or they are displaying signs of depression or anxiety.
- Sexual Elder Abuse. Many people are surprised to learn that their loved ones are being sexually abused in nursing homes. Sexual abuse can come in the form of any unwanted touching or kissing, including forced sexual acts or rape. Signs that your loved one is undergoing this type of abuse can be bruising or lacerations around their genitals as well as sexually transmitted diseases.
- Financial Elder Abuse. This occurs when a caretaker or stranger steals valuables or money. You may notice your loved one experiencing this when they suddenly have unpaid bills, you see strange or unwanted charges on their account, large checks are written toward their caregivers, or there are changes to their power of attorney.
- Elder Neglect. Elder neglect can be extremely serious and occurs when a caregiver fails to give your loved one the care and attention they need. Common signs of neglect are poor hygiene, weight loss and malnutrition, bedsores, and not getting the medical treatment they need.
Get the Help You and Your Loved One Need
If you suspect that your loved one is a victim of nursing home abuse, you should reach out to our trusted Chicago, IL nursing home abuse lawyer as quickly as possible. The longer your loved one is in this situation, the worse off they will be. When you need to get your loved one to safety and fight the institution that is not giving them the care they need, call our office. We will be here to help you and your loved one through this situation. For more information on signs of nursing home abuse or to set up an appointment, give our office a call.
