What to do About Nursing Home Abuse

The senior citizens of our society deserve respect, care, and sensitivity in their old age. Many families believe that the best and most thorough care that may be provided for their older relatives comes from a nursing home with a staff dedicated to the well-being of those who are unable to care for themselves. Nursing homes in California for the elderly help to ensure that their treatment protects and their care benefits the older generations, their families, and loved ones. However, some homes for senior citizens are now being reported for abuse of their patients and clients. Senior citizens now face unnecessary abuse in the forms of physical, emotional, financial, or even sexual assault in some of the homes whose intentions directly counteracts their existence.

According to some news stations, reporters now feature that nearly one third of nursing homes in the country have been reported for nursing home abuse because of immoral and unlawful employees. The media attempts to bring attention to such issues in hopes of ending and further preventing such mistreatment.

One type of abuse, physical abuse, constitutes an improper care for a patient, either intentionally or accidentally, while still affecting their health and well-being. A care-giver may falsely distribute drugs orwrongfully misuse medications inflicting pain, discomfort, or even dangerous health effects upon their patients. Physical abuse may also include pushing or injuring a nursing home patient causing bruising or fractures, by accidental or non-accidental force.Neglect, in the form of physical abuse, may consist of malnutrition, bed sores from a lack of care, and infections from a lack of necessary sanitation.

Similarly, a care giver’s emotional abuse toward a patient, spurs from their authority or power over the elderly. A nursing home employee may instill fear or anxiety within senior citizens through shouting, harsh language, or other forms of verbal manipulation. Humiliation is also associated with emotional abuse while further causing distress to helpless victims.

Another, and perhaps the most common form of nursing home abuse, involves nursing home employees who financially abuse their patients by stealing money, which can happen through trust, manipulation, or oblivion on behalf of the elderly person. Care-givers who seek monetary funds may steal the patient’s life savings or personal identity without the patient’s family knowing.

The final form of nursing home abuse is known as sexual abuse between a care-giver and the senior citizen. Such an abuse is a non-consensual form of sexual humiliation either through sexual acts, needless undressing, or any unwanted sexual contact. A member of the nursing home may be unable to defend themselves because of an illness, weakness, or stroke leaving the elderly vulnerable.

Abuse stems from an over-excessive feeling of power or authority by a nursing home staff member over the helpless victim and member of the nursing home. In order to further prevent such immoral and horrific forms of abuse, family and nursing home staffs must bring attention to the mistreatment of patients. Nursing homes, especially in California, now more than ever, need to conduct background checks on their employees prior and during the hiring process to help eliminate nursing home abuse cases.

If you or a loved one has been affected by nursing home abuse anywhere in California, let our Personal Injury Attorneys of Long Beach help to bring justice to those who are defenseless against such crimes. A free consultation from Alvandi Law Group and their team of expert professionals can help! Call today at (800) 300-2121.