What Can be Done About Physical Abuse in Nursing Homes?

Over the past few years, the amount of people abused in nursing homes has seemingly skyrocketed. The Special Investigations Division of the House Government Reform Committee found that 30% of nursing homes in the United States were cited for thousands of instances of abuse from 1999 to 2001. Those numbers have gotten even worse in our recent times. In over a thousand of the cases, the violations were serious enough to cause harm to the residents or place them in jeopardy of death or injury. Many report documents found that residents were being punched, slapped, choked, or kicked by staff members.

These numbers must be examined due to the fact that over a million people reside in nursing homes to this day. Because of the numbers of abuse victims, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services conducts annual inspections of nursing homes. However, even though many abuse complaints are investigated each year, there are still many that go under the radar. How do we protect our elderly?

Understanding the Signs of Physical Abuse 

Many types of abuse are difficult to spot, such as emotional and financial abuse; however, physical abuse happens to be one of the easiest to spot. If you believe that somebody you love is being abused, there are some signs to watch out for. Some of the most typical include a medical professional who is refusing to leave the patient alone with family, unexplained injuries, physical signs of restraints such as bruises and abrasions, and malnutrition as well as sudden weight loss.

Watching a loved one suffer at the hands of a professional is not something to be taken lightly. This is why you should talk to staff to get an investigation started. However, if matters are not being handled, it is a good idea to speak to an attorney. Call us today to handle your nursing home abuse case and get your loved one the help they deserve.