Entrusting the care of your loved one to a nursing home is not easy. Most families send their loved ones to nursing homes so they can receive care, attention, and companionship. However, this is not always the case. Countless reports of neglect, physical harm, and intentional emotional harm have emerged over the years, breaking the chain of trust between nursing home caretakers and family members.
Statistics show that 1 in 10 nursing home residents suffer from abuse every day. However, this statistic is likely low, as elder abuse often goes unreported.
The terms “nursing home neglect” and “nursing home abuse” are often used interchangeably, which can lead to confusion and unreported cases. Knowing the distinction between nursing home neglect and abuse can help you better take care of your loved one.
Understanding Nursing Home Neglect
Nursing home negligence refers to the failure of healthcare providers to fulfill their duties and provide adequate care. It can lead to severe consequences, including physical injuries, emotional suffering, and even death.
Nursing home neglect can be of two types:
Passive Neglect
Passive neglect occurs when a caregiver unintentionally fails to provide adequate care. It is often caused by insufficient staff training and understaffing. Common examples of passive neglect include not assisting the elderly with personal hygiene, failing to change their clothes and bed sheets, and failing to provide water or other basic living needs.
Active Neglect
If a caregiver intentionally withholds basic living needs, it falls under active neglect. This can include withholding medication, food, and even water. Other forms of active neglect include isolating residents and preventing them from taking part in collective activities.
Stay on top of your loved one’s health and ask them about the staff’s treatment. Passive neglect can be extremely difficult to uncover therefore, pay attention to verbal cues and your loved one’s behavior.
Signs of Nursing Home Neglect
Nursing home neglect can manifest in various forms. Some common signs include:
- Bedsores
- Unkempt hair
- Dirty clothing
- Poor hygiene
- Body odor
- Dirty bed sheets
- Dehydration
- Deteriorating medical conditions, such as high blood pressure
- Social withdrawal
- Depression
Negligence doesn’t require the intent to harm, but it can be equally dangerous. If you’ve noticed signs of neglect, reach out to a competent personal injury lawyer to build a case and hold the guilty party accountable.
Understanding Nursing Home Abuse
Unlike nursing home neglect, nursing home abuse is done with the intent to harm. It is a harrowing problem deteriorating the quality of the American healthcare system. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 9% of nursing home caretakers admitted to abusing the residents in 2024.
Nursing home abuse can take various forms, such as:
Physical Abuse
Physical abuse might include actions such as kicking, slapping, punching, or putting in restraints without probable cause. It can lead to severe health consequences for older adults and cause immense psychological pain.
Emotional Abuse
It occurs when a healthcare provider insults residents or threatens to harm them. Emotional abuse is incredibly difficult to spot, as many perpetrators use tactics to keep the residents silent. Examples of emotional abuse include controlling a resident’s day-to-day activities, insulting their appearance, and stopping them from calling or seeing family members.
If your loved one appears distant and scared when you go to see them, there is a high chance they are suffering from emotional abuse.
Medical Abuse
When nursing home staff fail to provide adequate medical attention to your loved one, it falls under abuse and is a probable cause for personal injury. A negligent staff member might delay seeking medical attention for injuries or ignore symptoms of a medical emergency. They might also give incorrect dosages and try to cover it up.
Financial Abuse
Financial abuse in nursing homes is more common than you’d think. Staff members might try to coerce residents into sharing financial information and bank account passwords. They might also steal a resident’s credit card or cash.
If you notice unexplained and frequent withdrawals from your loved one’s bank account, they might be suffering from financial abuse.
Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse is often mistaken for physical abuse, making it challenging to prove. Any form of unwanted sexual advance, such as kissing, groping, or penetration, falls under abuse. The resident might exhibit unexplained vaginal bleeding, anxiety, or sleep disturbances.
Signs of Nursing Home Abuse
While every case is different, there are some common signs of nursing home abuse you should look out for. This includes:
- Bruises
- Cuts
- Broken bones
- Burns
- Untreated bedsores
- Malnutrition and dehydration
- Incorrect medication
- Lack of medical aids
- Withdrawn behavior
- Confusion and irritability
- Increased fear or anxiety
- Unexplained sexually transmitted diseases
- Unexplained changes to your loved one’s will
- Fraudulent signatures on financial documents
Despite witnessing clear signs of nursing home abuse, seeking justice can be challenging. You need to collect evidence, reach out to witnesses, and prepare a testimony to showcase the full extent of medical and emotional suffering your loved one has experienced.
Having legal personal injury resources by your side can increase your chances of getting fair compensation. A personal injury lawyer specializing in nursing home abuse cases will collect medical records, interview staff members, and document all the damages.
Who is Responsible for Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse?
Now that you understand the difference between nursing home abuse and neglect, it is important to understand who is liable.
In most cases, nurses are the perpetrators. However, nursing home managers, owners, and operators can also violate a resident’s physical rights. Other staff members, such as cleaners and cooks, can also be responsible.
Why Does Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse Happen?
There are several factors that contribute to an abusive and toxic environment in a nursing home. Due to insufficient staffing, healthcare providers might experience stress and burnout. As a result, an employee might take out their stress and anger on the residents, leading to physical abuse.
Moreover, the failure to run in-depth background checks when hiring employees can also lead to neglect and abuse. Inadequate training can also increase the chances of such instances. For example, an employee who is not trained to perform CPR or check for bedsores might worsen a resident’s condition.
Lastly, a lack of supervision by the upper management can cause healthcare providers to cut corners and fail to provide proper care.