Residents in nursing homes often need help with daily living activities, such as showering or eating. They move into these homes so they have a dedicated staff to help them; however, some employees may not always do what they should.
Abuse in nursing homes is a serious problem because the people who are supposed to be helping vulnerable residents do things to harm them. In some cases, there are bruises and other signs of physical abuse. There are times when those are hidden, but some subtle signs may still be present.
1. Withdrawn behavior
When you go to see your loved ones, you may notice that they don’t talk to you like they used to. There may be a staff member who’s hovering around to hear if they tip you off about the abuse.
2. Unkempt appearance
Residents who are being abused may seem unkempt. They may not receive the assistance they need with hygiene or dressing, which can lead to them having a bad body odor or clothing that’s not appropriate for the current weather or temperatures.
3. Social isolation
One sign that’s not always obvious when a person is being abused in a nursing home is social isolation. The resident may stop doing activities they enjoy because of fear of abuse.
Victims of nursing home abuse likely need considerable medical attention. They may also opt to pursue legal action to help recover damages because of the abuse. It may behoove them to work with someone familiar with these matters so they can explore their options and move forward quickly.