How to Investigate Nursing Home Abuse

Deciding to admit your elderly loved one to a nursing home isn’t an easy task. After painstakingly mulling over the options, you chose a nursing home facility that promised to give them the best care and attention. However, what happens when you suspect that your loved one isn’t being cared for properly?

Unfortunately, nursing home abuse and neglect are far too common. If you suspect your elderly loved one is enduring nursing home abuse, here are some steps you can take:

KNOW THE WARNING SIGNS

The first step to investigating nursing home abuse is to understand the warning signs of elder abuse and neglect. Here’s what to look for:

• Physical abuse – an abused person may have unexplained bruises, broken bones, burns, and more frequent medical attention.
• Emotional abuse – an abused person may display behaviors such as fear, anxiety, mood swings, personality changes as well as withdraw socially.
• Sexual abuse – a sexually abused person may have genital pain, anal pain, or has contracted a sexually transmitted disease.
• Neglect – a neglected person may be malnourished, have limited sustenances such as food and water, poor hygiene, bedsores, and skin ulcers.
• Unsanitary living conditions – this may include soiled clothing and bedding.
• Financial issues – this may include missing personal property, unexplained financial transactions, sudden changes in living arrangements, as well as their standard of living, which isn’t coinciding with their available assets.

REPORT THE ABUSE

If you suspect your elderly loved one is being abused or neglected, immediately report your suspicions to the authorities or call your local office of Adult Protective Services.

If you think your loved one is in immediate, life-threatening danger, always call 911. Even if you don’t have solid proof that your elderly loved one is being abused, police and other professionals must investigate the allegations.

LEARN YOUR RIGHTS

Every nursing home must abide by the laws that are put in place to protect residents. Unfortunately, many nursing home facilities do not abide by these laws, and that’s how these heinous crimes against helpless elderly residents happen.

Your elderly loved one has the right to live in a facility that is free from verbal, sexual, physical, and mental abuse. Having an experienced nursing home abuse attorney on your side can make all the difference and help you protect your loved one’s rights.

WHEN YOU NEED A NURSING HOME ABUSE LAWYER

If you suspect your loved one is being neglected or abused by nursing home staff members, and you have reported it without changes, our legal team at Garcia & Artigliere is here to help.

We are committed to fighting nursing home abuse across the United States and have helped countless clients seek justice against their abusers. We will fight the abusers and won’t back down until we get the justice our clients deserve.

Contact us today at to schedule a free case review with our team.