OKC Elder Physical Abuse Lawyers
Elder Physical Abuse and Neglect
As heinous as it sounds, elder abuse is very common in the United States. It is estimated that approximately one million of these fragile members of our society are abused or neglected each year by the people that are supposed to be caring for them. Only a fraction of these cases are actually reported. When it becomes impossible to care for an elderly loved one in a home setting, the best alternative is a nursing home. You should be able to expect that your loved one will be properly cared for. Sadly, many times, this is not the case. Although there are several types of nursing home abuse, the most common is physical abuse. Physical abuse accounts for 25% of all nursing home abuse on elderly residents.
Physical abuse is the use of intentional physical force or performing a physical act that results in the bodily injury, physical pain or impairment, to an elderly resident of a nursing home. It can also be the deliberate deprivation of necessary items such as food, water or medicine so that the elderly resident is physically harmed. Although physical abuse can occur from one resident to another, in the vast majority of cases, it happens at the hands of the staff members who are supposed to be caring for your loved one.
Some of the examples of behavior that would constitute physical abuse are:
- Hitting, slapping, pinching, kicking, pushing, shaking
- Any unexplained injury
- Burns
- Force feeding
- Bedsores
- Confinement
- Assault
- Unnecessary restraints, either physical or chemical
- Sexual abuse (see below)
Sexual abuse is the wrongful contact or other behavior with the genitals, breasts, or anus of a resident. "Wrongful" means that the resident did not give knowing and voluntary consent to the contact or behavior.
Some examples of sexual abuse are:
- Sexual assault or battery
- Rape
- Forced nudity, exposing a residents private body parts
- Unwanted kissing, sexual touching
- Photographing or videotaping a resident's private body parts
- Coercing a resident to perform unwanted sexual acts
- Sexually harassing a resident; telling inappropriate "jokes"
- Forcing a resident to view pornographic material
If you believe that your elderly loved one has been a victim of physical nursing home abuse, please call the experienced and compassionate Oklahoma City nursing home injury attorneys at Maples Law Firm today to discuss your case. You will receive a completely confidential and free case evaluation.
Call us toll-free, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at (888) 226-6159. If you are from Oklahoma City, you can also call (405) 551-8864.
