No one wants to worry about the possibility that their elderly loved one may have been mistreated while residing in a nursing home. Unfortunately, nursing home abuse and neglect are all too common. According to the National Institute on Aging, around 10 percent of people over the age of 60 have experienced some form of abuse, whether it be physical, emotional, financial, sexual, or neglect. 

Family members can play a key role in preventing nursing home abuse by catching it early on. Visiting your loved one regularly and being familiar with the staff at a nursing home will help you notice any changes in your loved one’s behavior or appearance that could be indicative of abuse. It is important to be aware of the signs of abuse and neglect so that you can take action if you suspect that your loved one is being harmed.

Signs of Physical Abuse

Physical abuse includes any type of physical force that results in pain or injury, such as hitting, slapping, pushing, or kicking. Signs of physical abuse may include bruises, cuts, broken bones, or other unexplained injuries. If you notice any of these signs on your loved one’s body, it is important to ask them what happened and report these issues to the nursing home staff immediately.

Nursing homes and other long-term care facilities must ensure that residents are protected and safe. A crucial aspect of this responsibility is preventing accidental injuries. Falling is especially dangerous for elderly and disabled individuals. A minor fall accident can have catastrophic consequences.

Many residents cannot move around independently. They need assistance to get in and out of bed, use the bathroom, or go to common areas of the nursing home facility. When residents are not given the help they need, they may try to move on their own, leading to slip and fall or trip and fall injuries. Falling can cause potentially life-threatening head injuries.

If your loved one suffered a head injury or traumatic brain injury because of an avoidable nursing home fall accident, contact a nursing home injury lawyer for help.

Certain types of abuse that occur in nursing homes, like severe neglect or even assault, lead to immediate and obvious physical harm. Other types of nursing home abuse are more insidious in that they may not directly and immediately cause physical injuries - but can lead to long-term negative health effects, or be associated with other forms of abuse that do cause physical harm. If you have a loved one who resides in a nursing home and suspect any type of abuse or neglect, it is important that you see that the matter is investigated. An attorney can help guide you through the next steps. 

How Non-Physical Forms of Abuse Can Cause Physical Harm

In elder populations, mental health is closely associated with physical health. Nursing homes that will engage in any form of abuse or neglect are not putting their residents first, and it may be prudent to question the safety of those in their care. The following forms of abuse can ultimately lead to physical harm down the road: 

• Verbal abuse - A resident who is being verbally abused may be reluctant to ask for help from staff when she needs it. This can lead to treatable health issues going untreated because a resident was fearful of raising her concerns. Nursing home residents often need assistance getting in and out of their beds or chairs or with other daily tasks like hygiene and toileting. An abused resident may hesitate to call for assistance and attempt to get up or perform a task alone, leading to a fall or accident. 
• Financial abuse - Stealing from a nursing home resident can cause more harm than just the immediate financial impact. Seniors are often on a fixed income and have limited money to spare. If a nursing home is taking financial advantage of its residents, there is a very real risk that they will not be able to afford other necessities. If your loved one has money missing, you may want to take a deeper look into whether they are missing any needed supplies like medications or have skipped doctor’s appointments. Even if the financial abuse has simply led to a resident needing to cut back on outings or recreational activities, these things are vital to the continued health of elders. 
• Sexual abuse - Residents who experience this horrific form of abuse may suffer extreme detrimental health effects,. Sadly, residents who are less able to communicate what is happening to them - or less likely to be believed if they try - are more vulnerable to this type of abuse. Physical harm can come about if a resident withdraws from social or physical activity or resists having certain hygiene needs met as a result. 

All types of nursing home abuse are to be taken very seriously. Quick action may be needed to protect vulnerable residents from further harm. 

Every senior who relies on a skilled nursing facility for their daily care has the right to be treated with respect and to have their basic needs met, every day. Sadly, this is not always the case. If your loved one resides in a nursing home, you may be worried about how to make sure they are being adequately cared for. Now that many nursing homes are beginning to allow in-person visitation again after COVID-19 lockdowns, it may be wise to make note of a few subtle but common signs that a nursing home resident is being neglected. 

If you suspect that your loved one is being neglected in a nursing home, contact a qualified attorney. Your loved one may be entitled to compensation, and an attorney will be able to help you navigate any steps you may need to take to protect them. 

What Signs May Indicate Neglect of a Nursing Home Patient? 

Signs of purposeful abuse, like major unexplained injuries or a loved one who reports being yelled at, may be clear. Signs of neglect can be harder to spot, at least until the neglect has caused major health problems for the victim. Here are some more subtle signs of nursing home neglect to look out for during your visits: 

When families make the decision to place an elderly loved one in a nursing home, they are entrusting the facility to provide the care their loved one needs with compassion and dignity. While there are many facilities that do just that, there are also far too many nursing homes that fail at protecting residents and providing the most basic of needs. In Illinois alone, there are more than 20,000 cases of elder abuse reported each year, with many of those victims residing in nursing homes.

Because of the prevalence of nursing home abuse and neglect, both the State of Illinois and the City of Chicago have safeguards in place that are supposed to protect seniors. But as one recent report issued by the Inspector General for the City of Chicago reveals, one city inspector failed miserably at their job.

Investigator Fails to Perform Nursing Home Inspections

The Chicago Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) is the agency that oversees nursing homes and rehabilitation facilities. The agency employs elder protective investigators who are supposed to monitor cases of elder abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation of residents at these facilities.