Nursing Home Abuse

When we decide to place our elderly loved ones in the care of a nursing home or long-term care facility, we assume that the staff and caretakers there will treat them with respect and keep them safe. But unfortunately, that doesn’t always happen.

Although specific data on abuse in nursing homes or long-term care facilities is minimal, elder abuse is an ongoing and increasing problem, and it’s up to us to put an end to it.

What is Elder Abuse?

Abuse of the elderly (adults aged 60+) is any type of mistreatment that causes harm. As adults grow older, it becomes more difficult for them to care for themselves or perform daily tasks without assistance. They become more physically frail and often also develop mental ailments such as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, which alters their ability to comprehend what is occurring around them. This leaves them vulnerable to mistreatment, especially by caregivers.

According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), 1 in 6 elderly adults have suffered abuse within the past year, and those numbers are expected to rise as our populations are rapidly aging.

Sadly, elder abuse tends to take place where the elderly adult lives, so if your elderly loved one is a resident of a nursing home or other long-term care facility, it’s imperative to understand that abuse is common but also that there are steps you can take to recognize the signs and take action.

Types of Abuse That Occur

Each abuse case and victim is different, and it’s important to understand the variety of mistreatment that occurs. Abuse of nursing home residents is generally divided into the following five categories:

• Physical abuse is any action that physically harms or injures a resident
• Emotional or psychological abuse can include threats, yelling, or demeaning a resident
• Financial abuse is any unauthorized use or theft of a resident’s money or assets
• Sexual abuse is any unwanted or inappropriate sexual contact or acts involving a resident
• Neglect is generally unintentional mistreatment or lack of care of a resident

Any type of abuse is unacceptable, especially when it is inflicted on our most vulnerable populations. And when this abuse is caused by those who are supposed to keep these victims safe, it can make the already awful situation so much worse and more complex.

How Does Abuse Happen?

We know that elder mistreatment occurs far more than is reported, but why are certain nursing home residents victims of abuse while others are not? Abusers look for victims who are less likely to speak up about their mistreatment or even those who are not entirely aware that mistreatment is taking place at all.

Understanding Risk Factors

Certain risk factors often make some nursing home residents more likely to become victims of abuse. Those could be a resident whose family or friends rarely visit or a resident who suffers from dementia or Alzheimer’s. Often, those caretakers, staff, or others who decide to abuse an elderly adult will choose their victims based on how much abuse they can inflict without being caught. Also, the abusers themselves may suffer from mental illness or substance abuse, which causes them to act in such a heinous manner toward nursing home residents.

Unreported or Underreported Cases

Most nursing home abuse goes unreported largely due to the resident’s inability to speak up about it, fear of retaliation, or feelings of shame regarding the abuse itself. It’s estimated that only 24% of elder abuse is ever reported. Data from the WHO shows that the victims or their proxies reported 33.4% of psychological abuse cases, while only 1.9% of sexual abuse cases were reported. Because of these alarming statistics, abusers know that they will likely get away with their crimes.

How Abuse Affects Victims

An article from the National Library of Medicine (NLM) suggests that elderly adults who have suffered from abuse have a 300% greater chance of early death than those who have not been abused. While we know that most physical wounds heal in time, elder abuse can lead not only to early death but also to long-lasting psychological harm, great financial losses, and so much more.

Mistreatment of any kind often leaves the victim feeling depressed or afraid. Sometimes, victims also feel ashamed of what has happened to them, believing that the abuse is their fault. After the abuse has occurred, victims often are wary of other people and may develop post-traumatic stress disorder. Physical abuse may be minor bruises or severe head injuries, which might lead to brain damage or lifelong disabilities.

It’s important to understand that any abuse inflicted upon a person, no matter their age, affects that person long after the abuse has stopped. If your loved one has been the victim of abuse, mental health support is available to help them through this difficult time.

What We Can Do

One of the most important things we can do to help keep our loved ones safe is to visit frequently, or if that’s not possible due to travel time, work, etc., consider having a trusted family member or friend visit the nursing home often. That way, you can stay updated on the care your loved one is receiving and how healthy and happy they are.

Another good thing to understand is the warning signs of nursing home abuse, such as unexplained injuries or illnesses or sudden changes in your loved one’s behavior. By educating yourself and friends or family who frequently visit your loved one, the signs and symptoms of abuse will likely be more obvious, and the perpetrators of the abuse will be caught sooner.

If you believe your loved one is in danger of being abused or is already being mistreated, you can make a report of nursing home abuse to the proper authorities. Call 911 if your loved one or any other nursing home resident is in immediate danger.

Consider also taking steps to remove your loved one from their current facility and into a safer one as soon as possible. The sooner you take action for the safety and health of your own loved one, the sooner the abusers will be caught, likely saving other residents from continuing to be or becoming victims.

If you suspect abuse is occurring at your loved one’s nursing home, even if your loved one is not the victim, you should report the abuse to local authorities, state agencies, and nursing home management.

To learn more about your loved one’s legal rights and options, please contact us for a completely free, no-obligation consultation.