Recognizing the Subtle Signs of Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect
When you choose a nursing home for an elderly loved one, you take care to find a place that seems clean, comfortable, pleasant, and capable of meeting your loved one’s needs in a thorough and safe manner. The last thing you want is for your loved one to suffer abuse or neglect.
As knowledge about nursing home abuse risks becomes more widespread, many experienced Oklahoma nursing home abuse lawyers and Oklahoma families know what the most common signs of abuse or neglect are. But many families are not aware of how subtle the signs of abuse or neglect can be. Particularly when a loved one’s mobility or communication are limited, it can be hard to tell that abuse is happening – but that does not mean abuse is not present or not serious.
Here are some signs of nursing home abuse or neglect that are less well known:
- Sudden, unexplained changes in behavior. A sudden loss of skills the person previously had, outbursts, unresponsiveness, or other strange or suddenly infantile behaviors may indicate a more serious problem.
- Physical or emotional withdrawal. A person who used to enjoy hugs but suddenly avoids touch, or a person who used to love chatting but suddenly seems sad or angry, may be experiencing severe physical or emotional pain – which may be a sign of abuse or of a serious medical condition. Discovering the cause of such withdrawal can help.
- Disappearance of personal items, money, or other valuables. Financial abuse and exploitation is suffered by elderly persons at a higher rate than any other age group. Watch for any signs that a loved one’s finances, bills, or valuables aren’t in order.
If you suspect that your elderly loved one is suffering abuse or neglect in his/her nursing home, please contact Maples, Nix & Diesselhorst for immediate legal assistance.