The Biggest Signs of Nursing Home Abuse Aren’t Always Physical

As a nursing home lawyer Memphis TN trusts with their biggest nursing home abuse cases, I’ve seen how some of the worst facilities in the country operate. Many families don’t realize some warning signs can occur before your loved one even gets to their room.

You may already know to look out for physical signs of abuse like injuries and bed sores, but other evidence can tell you a lot, too. Here are some of the biggest red flags I’ve seen from facilities that were later found to be abusive:

An Unwillingness to Let You Visit Your Loved One

Nursing homes should never be prisons. When you leave a loved one to their care, you should always have access to check in on them both mentally and physically. When a facility keeps you from your elderly family member, they often do so to protect themselves. We usually see this happen in one of three ways:

• The facility won’t let you speak to your loved one without a representative of their organization present.
• They tell you programming and other issues prevent them from letting you see your loved one at all.
• The staff delays your visit, which potentially gives them time to cover up signs of abuse.

You need to know before you sign anything that you will be granted unsupervised time with your loved one if you request it.

Unsanitary Conditions

If you see unsanitary conditions in the bedrooms, community rooms, or cafeteria, you may want to proceed with extra caution. Nursing homes need to have spotless hygiene. The people living there deal with lower immunity and other health problems that make them especially susceptible to disease and death. You should never have to worry they will catch something that could have been prevented if the dishes had been properly cleaned.

In addition, many residents have lower mobility, and if they come across debris and trash in the facility, they are at a higher risk of falling and fracturing a bone. Good nursing homes will do everything they possibly can to make sure injury and illness never happen.

Unusual Financial Transactions or Missing Items

Financial abuse is a less visible but extremely common problem. Make sure you keep an eye on what your loved one brings with them – particularly valuables – and make sure they remain where they belong. Keep extremely close watch over any bank accounts to which your elder may have access.

Drastic or Extreme Changes in Emotional Health, Including:

• Withdrawal
• Infantile behavior, and
• Fear

If you suspect nursing home abuse or neglect of someone you love, contact an attorney as soon as possible. They can investigation your case and help you figure out the best way forward.

Thanks to our friends and contributors from Darrell Castle & Associates, PLLC for their insight into nursing home abuse.