Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse: Cleveland Attorney
Joseph T. Burke
Nursing home neglect and abuse can be challenging to recognize, but should be taken very seriously. When family members are in nursing homes or care facilities they are usually too frail to fight against abuse or have trouble remembering how they have been treated. Abuse and neglect of the elderly is becoming very common in the United States and must be addressed immediately if such treatment is suspected.
There are many forms of abuse in nursing homes:
Physical Abuse – any bodily harm, drug misuse, or intentional mistreatment of patients resulting in injury, bruising, and health complications.
Emotional Abuse – includes degrading, threatening, and manipulating patients. Emotional abuse can resulting in mood swings, depression, anxiety, and confusion in the elderly.
Sexual Abuse – unwanted sexual activity with staff members, other residents, and visitors while a patient is sleeping, ill, or too weak to consent.
Neglect – a lack of social interaction, medical attention, hygiene, and a disregard for basic needs such as food and water. Neglect can lead to malnutrition, dehydration, psychological instability, bed sores, worsening of health conditions, or, in very serious cases, death.
Many nursing homes are working to improve the care of their patients. Some facilities have begun to more closely monitor their staff and the care that patients are receiving. Illinois has passed a law that allows families to install electronic monitoring systems in residents’ rooms and other states are following suit.
It is important that cases of nursing home neglect and abuse are identified quickly and handled immediately.
Fort more information visit my website or give me a call at 440.895.1234.