Most Common Types of Nursing Home Abuse

Nursing home abuse is never a fun topic to discuss. If you have a loved one residing in any type of nursing home or long-term care facility, it’s important to recognize signs of abuse. If we can condemn these actions, we can improve not only the standard of care for our loved ones, but a standard for quality care across the board. Atkinson Law is here to help you recognize the most common types of nursing home abuse to keep an eye out for.

Physical Abuse

Physical abuse in the nursing home is likely one of the most reported. Any type of physical force or unnecessary roughness that results in pain or harm to your loved one is considered physical abuse. Whether it is hitting, shaking, beating, pushing, excessive restraining, or even sexual assault, physical abuse is something that should be stopped right away.

Emotional Abuse

Emotional abuse is something that may not be reported as often, but still happens in nursing homes. Humiliation, ridicule, yelling, threatening, name calling, and even embarrassing the patient in front of others are all examples of emotional abuse that should be taken seriously.

Neglect

Another heartbreaking topic includes neglect as a form of abuse. Leaving a patient unattended for hours, not changing their clothes, finding the patient in their own feces for an unknown amount of time. These examples are heartbreaking yet happen so frequently. If you feel like your loved one is being neglected, it’s time to speak up.

While physical abuse, emotional abuse and neglect all sound horrendous, they are sadly not uncommon. 1 in 3 nursing home residents report that they have suffered elder abuse. 1 in every 10 senior citizens have been reported as being abused in the last year. How can we make a change and keep our elderly loved ones safe? At Atkinson Law, we are here to help. If you feel like your elderly loved one has been abused in a nursing home, come talk to us. Call us today at 757-648-8579.