Attorney
The families of almost 52,000 Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia residents trust nursing homes to care for their loved ones. Unfortunately, understaffing, neglect, malice, and profit-seeking can lead to abuse in nursing home facilities. Loved ones need to understand the types of abuse in nursing homes and how to recognize them.
7 Common Types of Abuse in a Nursing Home
Nursing home abuse results when staff intentionally or unintentionally harm patients. Abuse may be physical, verbal, or psychological and can lead to injuries, emotional distress, or death. Learning to recognize these seven common kinds of nursing home abuse can help you protect your loved ones.
1. Physical Abuse
Physical abuse is the result of injuries or bodily harm that a caregiver or resident at a nursing home causes. Examples of physical abuse include:
- Kicking or punching
- Restraining with ties or straps
- Pushing or shoving
Common signs of physical abuse include bruises, broken bones, and bleeding wounds or blood on the resident’s clothing, bedding, or other possessions. Patients with cognitive disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease, are at the highest risk of physical abuse.
Physical abuse in nursing homes may cause serious injuries or death. Nursing homes may be liable for medical bills and compensation for pain and suffering and emotional distress.
Some residents may not have the mental or physical ability to report abuse when it happens. Warning signs of physical abuse include unintentional weight loss, cuts and bruises, personality or behavior changes, depression, insomnia, unexplained hair loss or falls, and burns.
2. Emotional Abuse
Emotional abuse is one of the most common types of abuse in nursing homes. This kind of abuse includes inflicting pain, anguish, or distress through nonverbal or verbal acts, such as threats, insults, humiliation, intimidation, isolation, or harassment.
Examples of emotional abuse include:
- Screaming at residents when they can’t remember things or make mistakes
- Ridiculing patients who can’t care for themselves or are confused
- Threatening residents with isolation or physical harm
- Telling residents that loved ones don’t care about them
- Withholding medications, food, hydration, or access to basic hygiene
Signs of emotional abuse may include depression, anxiety, loss of interest in activities, fearfulness, extreme dislike of caregivers, and withdrawal. Emotional abuse can be difficult to identify because it doesn’t leave physical evidence.
3. Neglect
Neglect happens when nursing home employees do not fulfill their obligations to residents. This type of abuse may be medical or general.
When a nursing home fails to provide appropriate medical care to patients, it is medical neglect. Other types of neglect, such as not providing food, shelter, water, or safety, are general neglect.
Examples of neglect include:
- Failing to provide medication
- Not providing proper hygiene and sanitation
- Not reporting illnesses, injuries, or infections
- Failing to maintain the facility at an appropriate temperature
- Not changing a resident’s clothing regularly
Neglect may be less obvious than some other forms of abuse. Warning signs can include poor hygiene, dehydration or malnutrition, dirty clothing or bedding, bedsores, missed medication, or untreated illnesses.
4. Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse is one of the most underreported types of abuse in nursing homes due to stigma or the incapacity of the resident. This method of abuse includes any unwanted or nonconsensual sexual contact. It may cause emotional trauma and physical injuries, such as scratches, bruises, or sexually transmitted diseases.
Sexual contact, such as groping, kissing, or penetration that involves a patient who lacks the physical or mental capacity to consent is sexual abuse. Unwanted sexual communications, such as showing residents pornographic materials or harassment can also be sexual abuse.
Nursing homes may also be liable when they fail to prevent sexual abuse of patients by guests or other residents. Signs of sexual abuse may include:
- Unexplained pelvic bleeding or pain
- Recurring urinary tract infections
- Difficulty walking or sitting
- Bruising or other injuries around the groin
- Stained, bloody, or torn underclothing
Residents who can’t physically repel an attacker or who lack the capacity to give consent are at the highest risk of sexual abuse.
5. Abandonment
Leaving a nursing home resident who can’t care for themselves unattended can be abandonment. Abandonment may lead to injuries due to falls, malnourishment or dehydration, and severe psychological damage.
Signs of abandonment include:
- Depression and loneliness
- Bedsores
- Isolation
- Withdrawal
- Unintentional weight loss
Abandonment may happen in the nursing home facility or outside of it.
6. Financial Abuse
Nursing homes that intentionally manipulate or exploit patients for financial gain are guilty of financial abuse. Financial abuse may include theft of a resident’s money or property or using a resident’s assets in a way that isn’t in the best interest of the patient.
Examples of financial abuse include:
- Forging a resident’s signature
- Manipulating a patient into signing a document
- Identity theft
- Misuse of a guardianship, conservatorship, or power of attorney
- Using threats to convince a resident to transfer assets
Financial abuse can also include using undue influence to get a resident to change their will to benefit the abuser. Some abusers may take advantage of patients who can’t understand complex financial transactions by talking them into risky investments or financial schemes.
Financial abuse is one of the types of abuse in nursing homes that is the most difficult to detect. Warning signs include:
- Increases in credit card balances
- Unusual bank withdrawals
- Missing property
- Letters from collection agencies
- Changes to a will or power of attorney
Financial abuse may also involve nursing homes overcharging residents for services. Financial abuse can lead to emotional distress and may deprive residents of the financial resources they need to pay for their long-term care.
7. Self-Neglect
Self-neglect involves a patient not taking proper care of themselves. This happens more commonly when patients live alone outside of a nursing home facility.
However, nursing homes can be liable if the actions of staff cause residents to engage in self-neglect. Other forms of nursing home abuse can sometimes trigger self-neglect.
Help With Abuse in Nursing Homes
Learning to recognize the types of abuse in nursing homes can help you act quickly to prevent serious injury to your loved one. If you suspect your loved one is experiencing nursing home neglect, contact a nursing home abuse lawyer at Koonz, McKenney, Johnson & DePaolis, LLP. Your initial consultation is free and you will only pay a fee if you receive compensation.