Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

When you place your family member in a nursing home, you expect for him or her to be taken care of. Unfortunately, however, this does not always happen. In fact, some residents are mistreated in nursing homes. Signs of abuse include unexplained injuries, sudden weight loss, unkempt appearance and behavioral changes. Although the signs of abuse are not limited to physical ones. As explained by our friends at Disparti Law Group, abuse can happen when residents are taken advantage of financially while under nursing home care.

If you have reason to believe that your loved one has suffered abuse in a nursing home, it is important to talk to him or her about the matter. It can be difficult at first because many residents are ashamed to talk about their abuse. They may also have been threatened by their abuser.

Here are some tips for discussing nursing home abuse with your family member.

Choose a Quiet Setting

If you want to talk to your loved one about your suspicions of abuse, you will want to do it in a quiet area. Your family member may be afraid of talking about the problem if others may overhear. Try to take your family member to a quiet room where no one is around. Then, he or she may feel more comfortable about discussing the issue at hand.

Explain Why You Are Worried

If you believe that your family member is being mistreated in a nursing home, it may be difficult to bring up the issue at first. You may not even know where to start. Begin by telling your loved one why you feel worried. For example, you may notice that your loved one has lost a lot of weight recently or seems rather depressed. Express your concern and make it clear to your family member that you just want him or her to be happy and safe.

Ask Questions

As mentioned before, many nursing home residents have difficulty admitting that they have been abused. They may have been silenced by staff members or are unaware the abuse is even going on. That is why it may be helpful to ask your loved one several questions. For example, you may ask if the caretakers are nice and treat you with respect. You may also want to ask if your loved one feels threatened by a caregiver or if he or she is given baths regularly. If you ask direct questions like these, you may be able to get the answers you are looking for.

Discuss Solutions

Once you receive answers to your questions, you can begin talking about possible solutions with your family members. For instance, you might suggest bringing up the matter with the director of the nursing home or removing your family member from the nursing home altogether. Let your loved one know that there are solutions and that he or she doesn’t have to endure the mistreatment any longer.

If your family member has suffered abuse in a nursing home, you may want to contact a nursing home abuse lawyer as soon as possible to discuss your legal options.