When you place a loved one in a long-term care facility, you trust that they will be well cared for. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. If a skilled nursing facility or assisted living community is raising suspicion in your mind, don’t ignore this feeling. Instead, watch for common warning signs of physical abuse. Be sure to call an experienced nursing home abuse lawyer like the attorneys at Curcio Law as soon as you notice anything out of the ordinary.
Top Warning Signs of Physical Abuse
Physical abuse often manifests as outward, noticeable symptoms on the resident’s body. Unexplained bruises or cuts are among the most common warning signs, especially if the staff doesn’t seem able to adequately explain them. Watch for bruises and welts in the shape of fingers, objects, or handprints.
While some patients do require restraints for specific circumstances, a patient should never be tied to a bed or chair improperly. Always be mindful of restraint marks. These could be in the form of bruises, or they can appear as lacerations around the wrists, ankles, or torso. There may also be rope burns present. Speaking of burns, never dismiss what may be the result of a chemical burn or a burn from a hot object either.
Unexplained or poorly explained sprains and fractures are also warning signs of physical abuse. Sprains and fractures in long-term care facilities are often due to excessive force, assault, or rough handling. Staff members should always be able to provide you with detailed explanations of fractures or sprains. They should have clear, consistent, documented reports of exactly how the injury occurred. Injuries that aren’t immediately reported to you or a medical professional are definitely a red flag.
Even unusual injury patterns can indicate abuse. Ask yourself important questions. Are there fractures on both sides of the body? Are the injuries at different stages of healing? Are sprains happening along with unexplained cuts, bruises, or burns?
Further Red Flags Indicating Abuse
Overmedicating is another form of physical abuse you need to be aware of. Unfortunately, the warning signs indicating overmedication can often be overlooked as symptoms of dementia or old age. For example, excessive drowsiness, a zombie-like appearance, or difficulty communicating can all be due to an abundance of medication. The patient may also be sleeping for unusually long periods of time, especially during the day. They might suddenly have a complete loss of interest in social activities or stop showing emotion.
Furthermore, exceeding the precise dosage of a medicine leads to increased falls and weakness. Does your loved one suddenly lose their balance, have a hard time with coordination, or have a hard time walking due to sedation? Watch for abrupt worsening of confusion and memory, as well as difficulty focusing. You might find that these warning signs indicate excessive medication.
Changes in Behavior
Behavioral changes are most definitely telltale signs of abuse. Abusers have a way of making their victims feel uncertain of what’s happening to them. The victim may even feel like it’s in some way their fault. As a result, they can withdraw into themselves and become quiet. If your loved one was once a very outgoing person, you have good reason to be concerned when they become shy and quiet.
Abuse in long-term care facilities can cause an elderly individual’s personality to drastically change. Someone who always looked on the bright side of any situation can suddenly seem depressed. Those who always took life in stride may all of a sudden be feeling anxious. They might even flinch if you try to touch them or become extremely frightened around certain staff members.
Your loved one may come right out and tell you what is going on. If they describe being hit, slapped, kicked, or mistreated in any way, don’t ignore them. It’s quite normal to dismiss these as tall tales rocknfusion. No one wants to believe that a patient is being abused, especially if it’s a family member or a dear friend. Instead, use what they are telling you to open up a conversation about the possibility of abuse. Listen carefully to what they say, and take note of their body language.
Abuse victims often develop nervous behaviors. This is usually repetitive things, such as nail biting, rocking back and forth, or twisting their hair. Additionally, you might notice that they have severe mood swings. An abused patient can aggressively lash out at others, become irritable for no apparent reason, or have emotional outbursts. This affects their sleep as well. Frequent nightmares and insomnia shouldn’t be ignored.
Be aware that when patients try to talk about abuse, staff members will try to find reasons why you can’t visit with the patient alone. If they refuse to let you talk to your loved one alone, stand strong and insist.
It’s important to become familiar with the common warning signs of physical abuse in long-term care facilities. Recognizing a problem early is crucial when it comes to intervention. Physical abuse typically escalates, which leads to worsening cognitive decline and long-term trauma. As soon as you suspect a problem, talk to the facility’s management. They should launch an internal investigation and provide you with a thorough report. If they aren’t cooperating, contact a nursing home abuse lawyer. Present them with any photographs or notes you have, as well as the patient’s medical records and any incident reports you have. They’ll assist you in getting to the bottom of this and ensuring your loved one’s safety.
