Making the decision to place a loved one in the care of a nursing home is often one of the most difficult decisions we will have to make. It can be hard to accept that a loved one is no longer able to care for themselves and need assistance to carry on their daily activities. We also want to make sure that our loved ones are receiving the best care possible and are being treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. Unfortunately, our loved ones are not always treated this way in nursing homes and sometimes they even suffer from assault.
Assault in nursing homes can be incredibly damaging to nursing home residents. Residents may be afraid to report the abuse because the people who are committing in are in places of authority. Because it can be difficult to prevent abuse at the hands of nursing home staff, it is important that family members and loved ones are knowledgeable about the signs of abuse. By knowing the signs of abuse, it can be easier to identify when a loved one is at risk.
Assault is the intentional act of making someone fear that harm will be done to them. To assault someone, one does not actually have to cause physical harm. Some examples of assault are verbal threats or pretending to hit someone. Battery is the intentional act of causing physical harm to someone. Assault and battery can occur at the same time. Some examples of assault and battery in a nursing homes include punching, pushing, slapping, threats and intimidation.
Because it can be difficult to know if someone is being abused, there are important warning signs to look for that can indicate abuse. It may be a warning sign that something is not right if you have a prolonged wait before being able to see your loved one or if a member of the staff does not allow you to be alone with them. There may also be physical signs of the abuse such as bruises, cuts, loss of hair and other unexplained injuries. There can also be emotional signs of abuse such as the resident having developed depression or anxiety.
Because of the seriousness of assault and battery in nursing homes, knowing the warning signs is imperative. If you find evidence that a loved one has been abused you will want to remove them from the nursing home immediately and contact the authorities. You may also want to consider contacting an experienced nursing home attorney who can help you determine what legal options are available to you and your loved one.