Other Nursing Home Abuse Offenses

Nursing home abuse offenses, unfortunately, do not fit neatly into one or two distinct categories. Nursing home residents are vulnerable to numerous ways of being victimized simply by the very nature of their dependency on others for their care. While physical abuse is the most obvious form of nursing home abuse offenses, it is by no means the only problem that may occur in nursing homes.

Mental and psychological abuse, verbal abuse, and sexual abuse are just as damaging, yet often easier for the perpetrator to conceal. Nursing home neglect, meaning failure to provide necessary care to ensure that the nursing home patient is well cared for and free from threat of harm, is uncovered in annual state and federal inspections in nursing homes across the country.

Exploitation is another form of abuse to watch out for—usually, financial exploitation occurs when an elderly person is either bullied, intimidated, or has been conned into trusting an untrustworthy person with his or her financial affairs.

When a loved one is in a nursing home, friends, family, and nursing home visitors are their first line of defense in making sure that all is well and that the resident is safe and protected. If a situation appears suspicious, ask questions. If a resident reports a problem, investigate thoroughly.

A nursing home negligence attorney who specializes in nursing home abuse lawsuits will have a wealth of information to help guide you through the process of addressing suspicions, concerns, and actual events.