Making the decision to entrust a nursing home or care facility with the care of an elderly loved one can be an incredibly difficult choice. However, when they require care you cannot provide, it may be for the best. If you notice signs that your loved one isn’t doing well, it can be devastating. If you have reason to believe your loved one is a victim of abuse and neglect, the following blog and an Orlando nursing home abuse lawyer can help you fight for justice.

What Is Nursing Home Abuse?

Though it can be incredibly upsetting to think about, understanding what nursing home abuse is can help keep you alert to the signs that something is wrong. Unfortunately, abuse of those in care facilities and homes is rampant and comes in many forms. Typically, this involves physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. However, your loved one may also be a victim of neglect and financial abuse at the hands of those who are supposed to care for them.

The abuse often manifests as a result of underpaid and overworked staff. When nurses and staff are responsible for too many patients, they may become frustrated and lash out, or simply neglect the patients they are responsible for. While this is no excuse, it’s important to understand the cause of abuse when looking into potential homes for your loved one.

What Are Indications?

Many victims are apprehensive to speak about the abuse they endure for fear they will not be believed or that the abuse will get worse as a result. As such, your loved one may not tell you about what they are facing, so knowing the signs is critical. Generally, you should look for signs of physical abuse, like unexplained injuries, bruises, or scars. You should also look for changes in their mood, like becoming withdrawn, depressed, or anxious, which can be a sign of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse.

It’s also important to stay alert to their living conditions to determine whether or not they are being neglected. For example, if they do not look clean, their room and bathroom are dirty, they are losing weight, or they continually complain about being hungry, it is a sign that the staff is not doing their job to keep your loved one safe and healthy.

What Should I Do if I Believe My Loved One Is Being Abused?

When you have reason to believe your loved one is a victim of abuse in their long-term care home, understanding the steps you can take to help protect them is critical. Generally, you’ll want to gather as much evidence as possible to help support your claim before contacting the nursing home abuse hotline. If you have suspicions, you are legally required to submit a report.

If your loved one requires immediate medical attention, you should bring them to a doctor or hospital as soon as possible so they can receive the care they need.

Finding out your loved one has been suffering at the hands of those charged with caring for them can be heartbreaking. Working with an attorney is critical to helping your loved one get the justice they deserve for the suffering they’ve endured. At Tropical Injury Law Firm, we can help guide you through these difficult legal matters so you can help your loved one on their journey to recover. Contact our team today to learn more.