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Four Things That Should Lead You To Suspect Nursing Home Abuse

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A nursing home abuse can bring a lot of pain and anguish not only to the abused victim, but also to his or her loved ones. However, if you are not keen, then your loved one may be neglected and abused for a long time without your knowledge or suspicion. Here are some of the telltale signs that should lead you to suspect that your loved one is suffering unnecessarily.

Injuries Not Clearly Explained

If your loved one is injured in a genuine accident, then you should expect a clear explanation of what caused it and the measures that have been taken to prevent a repeat occurrence. However, if he or she has a sprained joint, bruises or any other physical injury sans adequate explanation, then you should suspect foul play.

Sudden Change in Behavior

Nursing home abuse or neglect does not only lead to physical injuries, but it can also take the form of emotional abuse. One of the first signs of emotional abuse is a sudden and unexplained change in the victim's behavior. Maybe he or she is usually a talkative and joyful person who suddenly starts keeping to himself or herself.

Financial Issues

Another thing that raises red flags is an unexpected litany of financial issues or shortfalls. You should be concerned, for example, if your loved one is struggling to pay his or her bills when you know very well that shouldn't be the case. For example, you may be depositing money into his or her account regularly, but he or she is still struggling to make ends meet. At times, you may also find that he or she is giving away (as gifts) substantial amounts of money or expensive assets to non-family members.

Signs of Neglect

What if your loved one is being neglected and not getting the care he or she deserves; how would you know it? A good way is to confirm that he or she is getting all his or her medicines, has impeccable personal hygiene, is eating as usual and getting the nutrition he or she needs. This is because some of the common negligent acts in nursing homes are associated with hygiene, diet and personal comfort issues.

If you are convinced that a nursing home is abusing or neglecting your loved one, then it might be a good idea to take it up with them first. If you don't get satisfactory answers, then the next step is to consult an attorney such as Kiernan Personal Injury Attorneys PA.  Depending on the nature and extent of the abuse, you may be able to help your loved one recover some personal injury damages.


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