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What Does Abuse Look Like in a Nursing Home?

Nursing Home Lawyer Bethesda MD

If you suspect that a loved one is being abused at a nursing home, you may want to contact a nursing home lawyer Bethesda MD relies on. Unfortunately, nursing home abuse is very common, with a victim count of almost two million people across the United States. Sometimes it’s easy to spot and other times it isn’t. If you suspect that your loved one is being abused, you may want to call a Bethesda nursing home lawyer at Brown Kiely for more information.

Physical Abuse at a Nursing Home

A nursing home lawyer Bethesda MD offers can tell you that there may or may not be clear signs of physical abuse. The abuse may happen in the form of physical abuse or neglect, and it could be at the hands of someone who works or volunteers at the nursing home.

Some of the more obvious signs of abuse may be:

  • Restrictions on being alone with your loved one.
  • Unexpected use of restraints on the arms or legs.
  • Reports of medication overdoses or refusal to take their medicine.
  • Unexplained injuries in the form of bruises, broken bones, scars, or sprains.

If you’re concerned about your loved one and suspect signs of physical abuse, you may want to contact a nursing home lawyer in Bethesda MD to see what legal options you have.

Emotional Abuse at a Nursing Home

Unfortunately, emotional abuse is even more difficult to spot than physical abuse because your loved one’s body may not show signs of the abuse. To understand emotional abuse and recognize it, you may need to know the definition of it.

As a nursing home lawyer Bethesda MD respects may explain, emotional abuse consists of deliberately causing another individual anguish, anxiety, fear, or any other negative mental or emotional state. This is often in the form of verbal communication, but it’s important to note that emotional abuse may take on more passive forms as well.

Some of the warning signs may be:

  • Restrictions on being alone with your loved one.
  • Strange behavior from the caregiver when you’re at the nursing home.
  • Strange behavior from your loved one, such as aloofness or sudden depression.

Additionally, emotional abuse may be in the form of neglecting or ignoring the patient or depriving them of necessary interactions and socialization. Your nursing home lawyer Washington DC can provide may be able to help you determine if emotional abuse is taking place at your loved one’s nursing home.

Sexual Abuse at a Nursing Home

When nursing home abuse is discussed, most people don’t think about sexual abuse as being an issue. Unfortunately, it is becoming more common.

Some of the warning signs may be:

  • Diagnosis revealing a sexually transmitted disease (STD).
  • Injuries around breasts or genitalia.
  • Torn or stained bedding or clothing.
  • Unexplained vaginal bleeding.

Remember that sexual abuse isn’t always physical, but can also be in the form of requiring someone to undress unnecessarily or even verbal communication.

Now that you know some of the signs of nursing home abuse, you may want your next move to be speaking with a lawyer at Brown Kiely LLP. Call for a free consultation with a nursing home lawyer Bethesda MD trusts at 301-718-4548.