Nursing home abuse is the harm and mistreatment of residents of nursing homes by caretakers. It can be both intentional and unintentional, but it is always to be taken seriously, able to result in trauma, medical problems, and even death.

The prominence of nursing home abuse is a difficult pill to swallow, but issues such as understaffing, burnout, and improper training can cause caretakers to take advantage of the positions of power they are in to harm the residents of their facilities.

The silver lining is that there are options available to the victims of nursing home abuse that will allow them to be safe and receive the proper financial compensation for their suffering. Experienced nursing home abuse lawyers are able to use their expertise to get victims the help they deserve.

Nursing home abuse can come in multiple forms.

- Physical nursing home abuse: Physical harm to nursing home residents can include acts such as pushing, hitting, kicking, and excessively aggressive physical conduct

- Emotional nursing home abuse: Any action that harms a nursing home resident’s well-being such as yelling, taunting, isolation, humiliation, and shaming counts as emotional abuse

- Nursing home neglect: The act of leaving nursing home residents unattended for extended periods of time is dangerous and considered abuse, potentially leading to bedsores, infections, malnutrition, psychological effects, and more

- Sexual nursing home abuse: Any form of non-consensual sexual activity between a nursing home staff member and a resident is considered to be sexual abuse

- Financial nursing home abuse: Stealing objects or money from nursing home residents or otherwise defrauding them is another type of nursing home abuse

The unfortunate reality is that those of us with loved ones in nursing homes may never know that they are being abused if they are unable or unwilling to communicate it. However, there are both subtle and more obvious signs that you can watch out for that may be indicative that abuse could be happening.

 These include physical signs such as:

- Dehydration or malnutrition
- Illness or infection
- Cuts, lacerations, or skin tears
- Fatigue, insomnia, or other sleep disorders
- Bedsores or pressure ulcers
- Bruises, burns, or welts on the skin
- Head injuries
- Dental injuries
- Broken or fractured bones
- Unexplained weight loss
- Lack of personal hygiene
- Bruises or welts around the genitals
- Unexplainable STDs
- Unchanged, filthy clothes or bed sheets
- Malnutrition or dehydration

However, there are also other warning signs that are not physical, which may make them more challenging to notice but are no less important to watch out for. These include:

- Lowered confidence and self-worth
- The onset of aggressive or violent behavior
- Trauma or PTSD symptoms
- Substance abuse
- Suicidal thoughts or actions
- Inappropriate physical contact with staff members
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Opening new credit cards or bank accounts
- New changes to the power of attorney
- Strange financial transactions or charges

It’s important to remember that each instance of nursing home abuse is quite different and there is no single way that a nursing home abuse case may appear. Remaining generally aware and observant and listening to your intuition can help you identify suspicious situations.

There are both federal and state laws that guarantee nursing home residents certain rights such as:

- The right to a safe living space free of abuse
- The right to participate in decisions regarding their care
- The right to file lawsuits if they are mistreated

When identifying a nursing home abuse case, the first step should be reporting it to the authorities. The next step is to contact a lawyer. They will be able to help you understand how nursing home abuse laws affect your case and guide you in receiving the proper compensation by assisting in the process of gathering evidence, filing your claim, and arguing your case in court.

Types of damages that you may be able to recover in a nursing home abuse lawsuit include:

- Funeral costs
- Medical expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Punitive damages

If you or a loved one have been through nursing home abuse, it’s important to reach out as soon as possible to a lawyer experienced in these types of cases. This will help you learn your options for how to proceed in order to receive the compensation you deserve for your pain, suffering, and loss.