If you have a loved one who lives in a nursing home and you suspect they might be facing mistreatment, it can be difficult to know when to step in. Sometimes an elderly loved one’s memory or cognitive skills are unreliable, and older adults are more prone to bruising and injury. Knowing the signs of abuse can help you have more confidence about when to intervene and get your loved one help.
Typically, signs of nursing home abuse involve physical injuries like bruising or broken bones, bedsores from being left unattended in bed, malnourishment, and changes in mood or personality. Sometimes it can be difficult to know if these are simply the effects of aging or signs of abuse, in which case you can call a Texas nursing home abuse lawyer for help investigating the case.
For help with your case, call our Arlington nursing home abuse lawyers immediately at (817) 476-1797. At The Queenan Law Firm, we offer free case evaluations.
How to Check for Signs of Nursing Home Abuse in Texas
As mentioned, there are many signs of abuse that you can watch for. It is important to remember that abuse can mean more than simply physical abuse, as abuse can be psychological, emotional, verbal, or even sexual.
Additionally, different people react to abuse differently; some abuse victims might withdraw into themselves, while others might deny the abuse to protect themselves or even begin to defend their abusers from accusations.
Lastly, abuse can be difficult to detect in older adults because they are often prone to a higher risk of injury that has nothing to do with abuse, especially when it comes to bruising and broken bones from falls.
If you see any of the following signs or symptoms of abuse – especially a combination of these factors – you should reach out to our experienced Dallas personal injury lawyers to seek help for your loved one:
Bruising and Fractures as Signs of Nursing Home Abuse
Bruising is often considered a minor injury that recovers on its own, and broken bones are common enough that most people do not think of them as possible signs of abuse. However, in a nursing home, these and other common ailments may indicate that something is wrong.
Document Signs of Bruising
Along with broken bones, bruising is one of the most obvious signs that someone has laid hands on a nursing home patient in a violent or abusive way. If you see signs of bruising in surprising places, make sure to take pictures of the injuries and document them, as this can help identify patterns and timing of potential abuse.
Consider Other Causes of Bruising
It is, however, important not to assume that every bruise is the result of abuse or neglect. Older adults are prone to extensive bruising that can look surprisingly severe, even from injuries that would not cause much bruising on younger adults. This is especially true if the patient is on blood thinners or other drugs that can cause increased bruising.
Broken Bones and Fractures
Broken bones are also more common for elderly adults, but that does not necessarily mean abuse either. Older adults are prone to broken injuries from falling, even when they are being given proper care and attention.
However, falling could also be a sign that your loved one is not getting the care and attention they should. Broken bones that were likely not caused by a fall, such as a broken femur, could also be stronger signs of abuse.
Unreported or Untreated Injuries
Untreated injuries are especially worrying, as they could be a sign that your loved one is being abused and the nursing home isn’t reporting or treating the injuries for fear that their abuse would be discovered. If the nursing home staff seems surprised when you report a parent or grandparent’s injuries, that is a potential red flag.
Checking for Bedsores in Nursing Home Residents
Bedsores are skin sores that occur when someone is left in a bed or chair in the same position without moving. Younger or more physically able people can toss and turn on their own, but older patients with mobility issues often need to be turned and rotated by nursing home staff to prevent bedsores.
Bedsores from a Lack of Care
Extensive bedsores could be a sign that your loved one was left unattended in bed or in a chair for an extended period without assistance.
Nursing home workers are responsible for rotating patients and, if they are able to handle such activities, getting them up and walking at regular intervals to avoid bedsores.
Serious Infection Risks
Bedsores may happen even when a nursing home resident is properly cared for. However, if nursing home staff allow the bedsores to go untreated, they may be a serious infection risk, and your loved one could develop more severe health conditions as a result of the abuse and lack of care.
Especially if bedsores are discovered along with soiled bedsheets or unclean conditions, it could be a serious sign of neglect. Bed sores and unclean sheets are a recipe for infection. Call an Irving personal injury lawyer for additional details and information on the next steps to take.
How Frequently Soiled Clothes and Sheets May Indicate Nursing Home Abuse
Many nursing home residents have incontinence issues, and many cannot use the bathroom or bathe properly on their own. Nursing homes often make caring for patients’ bathroom and hygiene needs a top priority. Any evidence that your loved one is sitting in soiled clothes or bedsheets for a prolonged period could be a sign of neglect or abuse.
Unhygienic conditions can lead to infections and other health problems. Especially if infections have already set in from unclean conditions – and especially if these unclean conditions are found in conjunction with other signs of abuse or neglect – you should call a Midland personal injury lawyer right away.
Changes in Mood or Personality as Symptoms of Nursing Home Abuse
Living in a nursing home can be lonely for some, and many older adults might become despondent or depressed living away from friends and family. However, some changes in mood or personality are more likely signs of abuse.
Sudden Personality Changes
First, any new or surprising personality changes could be the result of abuse. Investigate further if you find your loved one doesn’t “seem like themselves.” If your loved one is suddenly afraid or recoils from being touched, that could be a sign of physical abuse.
Similarly, many abuse victims become avoidant, keep their heads down, and turn uncharacteristically quiet. They may become afraid or show signs of fear around certain people or employees in the nursing home. This may be an indication that your loved one is being abused.
Anger or Emotional Outbursts
Abuse victims can also become defensive or angry without an apparent cause. They might also try to cover up signs of abuse for fear of getting someone else in trouble or for fear that their abuser might retaliate if they report the abuse.
In any case, it is worth asking your loved one additional questions in a safe environment to help route out any abuse. You should also call an Odessa personal injury lawyer, who can look into the nursing home’s practices and make inquiries, all while seeking to protect your loved one from retaliation.
Nursing Home Abuse and Malnourishment
Signs that your loved one is not being fed or that food is being restricted without medical need are often clear signs of abuse.
Medical Condition and Poor Nutrition
Some older adults have difficulty absorbing nutrients due to medical conditions, or other factors may change their tastes and appetites, preventing them from getting adequate nutrition. However, nursing home staff should make up for this by changing the patient’s diet and adding supplements as necessary.
Loss of Appetite
Many victims of nursing home abuse lose their appetite as a result of other abuse. Loss of appetite is not an unusual response to abuse, and you should talk to your loved one about why they do not want to eat.
Loss of appetite is one thing, but failing to adequately feed a nursing home patient often squarely falls into the category of abuse and neglect. If you notice your loved one suddenly losing weight, the nursing home may be simply neglecting to feed them.
What Should I Do if I Notice Signs of Nursing Abuse in My Loved One?
Once you spot the signs of abuse, you must act fast. The longer you wait, the worse your loved one’s condition may become.
Contact the Police
Abuse in any situation, including nursing homes, may constitute a criminal offense. You should call the police and discuss your suspicions. The authorities may decide to investigate the nursing home. Depending on what kind of evidence the police uncover, they may arrest one or several members of the nursing home staff.
Take Your Loved One to the Hospital
Remove your loved one from their nursing home and take them to the hospital. While you might have noticed a few signs of abuse, there may be more that you cannot see without help from a doctor.
In many cases, doctors provide treatment for abuse injuries and identify older injuries that were never reported. Unreported injuries, especially multiple unreported injuries, are a strong indicator of abuse, and your loved one’s medical records may become crucial evidence in your case against the nursing home.
Call a Lawyer
Contact an attorney immediately. While the police and other state authorities investigate the nursing home, your lawyer can help you and your loved one build a civil lawsuit against the nursing home.
Your lawyer can help you gather evidence for a civil lawsuit, review police reports, and assess your loved one’s damages. Remember, in Texas, a personal injury lawsuit must be filed in court within 2 years of the injuries occurring.
FAQs About Signs of Nursing Home Abuse
How Do I Know if My Loved One Has Been Abused While Living in a Nursing Home?
Check for telltale signs of abuse, such as unreported injuries, personality changes, weight loss, or overall declines in your loved one’s health. While many of these symptoms have more reasonable causes, they should be treated as highly suspect, especially if you were never informed when they first occurred or began.
What Kind of Abuse is Possible in a Nursing Home?
Abuse can take many forms, which is a major reason why it is often difficult to identify. Abuse is often physical, with victims suffering serious and painful injuries. It may also be emotional or psychological, and abusers may verbally harass, degrade, humiliate, and manipulate victims.
How Can I Find Evidence to Prove That My Loved One Was Abused in a Nursing Home?
Evidence varies by situation, but common evidence may include signs of untreated injuries, such as bruising, fractures, and bedsores. You may also use your loved one’s medical records and employee records from the nursing home to support your claims that abuse has occurred.
How Do I Report Signs of Nursing Home Abuse?
You should call the police and discuss your concerns. The police may launch a criminal investigation into the nursing home, and we may be able to use evidence they discover that we do not yet have. You should also file a complaint with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, which oversees long-term care facilities such as nursing homes.
Should I Investigate Signs of Nursing Home Abuse in My Loved One?
Yes. While many injuries and health changes may have reasonable explanations, they should never be ignored or disregarded. Talk to your loved one about your concerns. Have them evaluated by a physician. Call a lawyer who has experience with nursing home abuse cases so they can help you investigate.
What Should I Do if the Nursing Home Covers Up Signs of Abuse?
If you believe the nursing home is hiding evidence of abuse or is dodging your questions about your loved one’s injuries, get a lawyer immediately. It may be necessary to contact the police right away. Alternatively, your attorney can raise your concerns with nursing home administrators. When lawyers are involved, nursing homes may be more forthcoming.
Call Our Nursing Home Injury Lawyers if You See Signs of Abuse
If your loved one lives in a nursing home in Texas and you see signs of abuse or neglect, call our Plano, TX personal injury lawyers right away. For a free case review, contact The Queenan Law Firm today at (817) 476-1797.