Nursing home residents often need considerable care from the staff members. They assume that they will receive it without any issues, but there are times when that doesn’t happen.
Anyone who has a loved one in a nursing home should know the signs of nursing home abuse. Some focus on easily visible signs, such as bruising or cuts. There are other less noticeable ones that can also point to nursing home abuse.
1. Isolation as a red flag
Isolation is one of the clearest warning signs of nursing home abuse or neglect. When a resident is suddenly kept away from other residents, family or friends, it can signal that something is being hidden. Abusers may isolate a resident to prevent them from reporting mistreatment or to keep visible injuries out of sight.
This can include:
- Limiting visits or making excuses to cancel them
- Preventing private conversations between the resident and visitors
- Placing the resident in secluded areas of the facility
Social isolation not only raises suspicion of abuse but also severely affects a resident’s emotional and mental health, increasing feelings of depression, anxiety and helplessness.
2. Hovering staff and intimidation
Another subtle sign of abuse is when staff members “hover” during family visits. Constant supervision that feels intrusive or unnecessary can be a tactic to intimidate the resident into silence. This might look like:
- Staff members remaining unusually close during conversations
- Interjecting or answering questions directed at the resident
- Watching visitors closely for signs of concern
When nursing home abuse occurs, the victim may opt to pursue a compensation claim. This may provide them with a way to recover the financial damages they’re dealing with. It may also prevent the behavior from occurring again. These cases can be complex, so it might be best to work with someone familiar with these cases.
