The National Council on Aging reports that there are over 5,000,000 people suffering from nursing home abuse annually across the country. Astonishingly, more than 64% of nursing home staff have admitted to engaging in abusive or neglectful behavior with their patients according to the World Health Organization. With these details in mind, it is critical that you keep an eye out for signs of nursing home abuse when you have a loved one in an assisted living or nursing home facility.
Nursing home abuse is not as uncommon as you might think. In fact, in late 2020, nearly a dozen different nursing homes across Pennsylvania almost went on strike, citing fraud, poor staffing numbers, low healthcare standards, abuse, and neglect.
If you have a loved one residing in a PA nursing home facility, it is easy to see why you would have cause for concern. Nursing home abuse can take many forms, but some of the most common include:
Each of these different types of abuse has its own specific warning signs. For example, in cases of physical abuse, you might see unexplained bruising, broken bones, burns, and other injuries. But with financial abuse, you would be more likely to see signs of unapproved transactions, missing money, or changes in the resident’s power of attorney.
I have noticed signs that your loved one is being abused in their nursing home, the first thing you need to do is make sure they are no longer in immediate jeopardy of suffering further abuse. Once you know they are safe, now may be the time to bring up your concerns with your loved one.
It is not unusual for victims of nursing home abuse to be hesitant to discuss what they have been through. This is particularly true if they have not been removed from the nursing home or have not named their abuser. Your loved one may also break down and feel embarrassed or ashamed of what’s happened to them.
Offer your unconditional love and support, and figure out what your next steps should be. It is always a good idea to get law enforcement involved in cases of nursing home and assisted living facility abuse. They can handle bringing any criminal charges against the culpable parties.
But you can also get a dedicated nursing home abuse attorney on your side who can help you file a civil claim against the abuser and those who facilitated the abuse. Your loved one is entitled to full restitution for what they have been through. Take justice into your own hands when you pursue a Philadelphia nursing home abuse claim.
If you or someone you love has been subjected to nursing home abuse, in any form, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Demand justice when you reach out to an experienced Philadelphia nursing home abuse lawyer at The Weitz Firm, LLC.
Our firm offers free, no-obligation consultations to victims of nursing home abuse across the state of Pennsylvania. Take advantage of this opportunity when you fill out our online contact form or call our office at 267-587-6240.
