Moving a loved one into a nursing home is never an easy decision. But in many cases, it is the right decision because in a nursing home, the individual can receive the specialized medical care that he or she would not receive at home.

Although you trust your loved one’s nursing home to provide him or her with adequate care and respect, the truth is that many Americans in nursing homes suffer from abuse and neglect from their caregivers. There are many issues that can cause this to happen, such as overworked and underqualified care staff. If you have recently moved a loved one into a nursing home, educate yourself about the types of abuse that can occur, their symptoms, and what you need to do if your loved one is a victim.

Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse is defined as any non-consensual sexual interaction between a caregiver and a resident. Examples of sexual abuse include rape, molestation, sexual harassment, and exposing the victim to unwanted sexual imagery or discussions.

Emotional Abuse

Emotional abuse includes any acts that wear down the victim’s sense of self worth. This can include belittling the victim, telling the victim that he or she is worthless, not lovable, or a burden on others, and manipulating the victim into complying with the abuser’s demands.

Physical Abuse

Physical abuse includes any bodily harm to a victim, such as hitting, kicking, pushing, or slapping the victim. It can also include restraining him or her against his or her will or depriving the victim of sustenance or medical care.

Neglect

Neglect is defined as the failure of a caregiver to provide for the resident’s needs. This can include failure to provide him or her with nutritious food, medicine, clean water, or medical care. It can also include a failure to provide interaction or social stimulation as well as a failure to clean the resident’s room, leaving him or her in dirty surroundings.

Financial Exploitation

Financial exploitation is another form of abuse that commonly occurs in nursing homes. A caregiver might steal money or valuables from residents, target them with scams that result in them losing large amounts of money, or use their identities to make purchases and accrue debt.

If you have financial power of attorney for your loved one, consolidate his or her accounts so it is easier for you to keep track of any purchases made with them. Do not send cash or valuables to the nursing home and if there are unexplained charges to his or her account or new accounts opened, contact the bank or lender immediately.

Work with an Experienced Chicago Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

If you suspect your loved one is being mistreated in any way by his or her caregivers, take action right away. Report your concerns to the management staff of the nursing facility and contact an experienced nursing home abuse lawyer to discuss whether filing a nursing home abuse claim is the right course of action. Our team at Baizer Kolar, P.C. is here to answer your questions and advise you about the right course of action to take as an advocate for your loved one.