If you have a loved one living in a nursing home in Danville, Virginia, you may be worried about their well-being and safety. Nursing home abuse can take many forms, such as physical, emotional, sexual, etc. It can cause lasting harm to the health and dignity of your loved one as well as legal and financial consequences for the facility and staff involved. Therefore, it is important to know how to recognize the signs of nursing home abuse.
National problem
Nursing home abuse is a serious problem that affects millions of older adults across the country. According to the National Council on Aging, about 10% of Americans aged 60 and older have experienced some form of elder abuse, and most cases are never reported.
Physical abuse
Physical abuse can include hitting, slapping, kicking, punching, biting, burning or restraining. Physical abuse can also involve the misuse of medication or medical equipment.
Signs include bruises, cuts, burns, fractures and welts. Additional signs also include repeated injuries or visits to emergency rooms and signs of restraint, such as marks on wrists or ankles. It can also include fear or anxiety around certain staff members or residents and changes in behavior or personality.
Emotional abuse
Emotional abuse is the infliction of mental or emotional distress on a nursing home resident through verbal or nonverbal means. It can include yelling, insulting, threatening, humiliating, isolating or ignoring. Emotional abuse can also involve the denial of basic needs or rights, such as privacy, communication or socialization.
Some of the signs of emotional abuse are depression, anxiety or withdrawal, and low self-esteem or confidence. It can also include difficulty with eye contact or communication, fearfulness or increased timidity and increased isolation from family and friends.
Sexual abuse
Sexual abuse is any unwanted sexual contact or activity with a nursing home resident without their consent. Sexual abuse can involve the use of force, coercion, threats or manipulation to inappropriately touch, fondle, kiss, etc.
Some of the signs of sexual abuse are unexplained bruises, bleeding, infections or injuries in the genital area. It can also include torn or stained clothing or bedding, and unexplained sexually transmitted disease diagnosis. And, it can include fear or anxiety around certain staff members or residents, and changes in behavior or personality. If you suspect that your loved one is being abused or neglected in a nursing home in Danville, Virginia, you should take immediate action to protect them and stop the abuse.