Stories of nursing home abuse in the news are all too common. From tales of sexual assault and neglect to theft and flat-out physical abuse, the elderly are often mistreated in facilities where we expect them to be safest. While we may never be able to completely eliminate nursing home abuse, there are things you should know about it so that you can help keep your loved ones safe.
1. Be Knowledgeable about the Various Different Types of Nursing Home Abuse
There are 5 different types of nursing home abuse, including:
- Financial Abuse, which occurs when a person’s assets are used illegally or in a manner that is improper.
- Neglect, which occurs when a person does not get the care they need. This includes improper distribution of medication, deprivation of regular showers and baths, to severely limiting social interactions.
- Emotional and/or Psychological Abuse, which includes verbal insults, humiliation, threats of violence, and refusing to speak to a nursing home resident.
- Sexual Abuse, which includes unwanted touching to forced sexual intercourse. Unfortunately, sexual abuse in nursing homes is rarely prosecuted. Recently, however, the sexual assault of a resident in a Missouri-based nursing home resulted in changes in the state’s mandatory reporting laws.
- Physical Abuse, which includes physical force that can cause bodily harm, impairment, and pain. Over medication, physical punishment, force feeding, and the use of physical restraints are also examples of physical abuse.
2. What to Do When You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse
If you suspect nursing home abuse in the state of Arizona, call the Elder Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Hotline at (602) 737-0342 or file a report online. The National Center on Elder Abuse also has an interactive website full of resources that you may find helpful.
3. Understanding How an Experienced Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Can Help
Many people don’t realize how an experienced nursing home abuse lawyer can help if they suspect abuse. In fact, by pursuing nursing homes with lawsuits, nursing home abuse lawyers can shut down bad nursing homes, and help improve good ones. Often times, a lawsuit related to nursing home abuse doesn’t just punish the wrong doer. It can also lead to positive changes in how:
- Personnel are screened, hired, and monitored
- Patients are treated by staff
- Medical care is overseen
These actions result in better quality of care and a safer experience for everyone.
CALL MILLER KORY ROWE LLP
At Miller Kory Rowe, LLP, we’re dedicated to protecting the rights of the elderly in nursing homes. Sometimes, you may see one of our nursing home abuse cases in the news. Other times, however, we quietly work with nursing homes to implement necessary changes. In every case, our goals include compensating our clients and their families for the abuse they have suffered. If you suspect a loved one may be a victim of nursing home abuse, contact Miller Kory Rowe LLP today at (602) 648-4045.