NASHVILLE NURSING HOME ABUSE OR NEGLECT

According to a 2016 Nashville Public Television special, victims of elder abuse in the United States outnumber child abuse and domestic violence victims combined. Despite regulations and safeguards designed to keep these vulnerable citizens safe, nursing home residents are victimized far too often. If your loved one has been the victim of nursing home abuse in Nashville, the Hughes & Coleman Injury Lawyers team wants to help.

Our Nashville nursing home abuse lawyers help elderly residents and their families to hold accountable the caretakers and facilities responsible for their mistreatment. We identify the responsible parties, gather evidence, and pursue them for the full scope of damages your loved one has suffered. We are conveniently located in downtown Nashville on James Robertson Parkway.

To schedule a free consultation with a member of our team, call our office today at 800-800-4600.

Nursing home abuse may take many forms, and not all of them have visible signs. To complicate matters even more, nursing home residents do not always speak up when they have suffered abuse. Since residents of assisted living facilities are highly dependent on their caregivers for basic needs, they might feel they will make matters worse by saying something, or may be unable to speak up due to declining cognitive abilities.A person who is not sound of mind might not even realize they are being abused.

For these reasons, it falls upon you, the resident’s loved one, to be familiar with the various forms of abuse and to remain vigilant about looking for the signs.

Here are some of the most common types of abuse suffered by nursing home residents:

Physical Abuse

While it might be necessary on occasion to be firm with a resident for the resident’s own safety (e.g., if the resident with Alzheimer’s is attempting to leave the facilities), it is never okay for a caregiver to be rougher than necessary with a patient or to inflict harm intentionally. Examples of actions by nursing home staff that should never be tolerated include the following:

• Hitting
• Kicking
• Misuse of restraints
• Burning
• Force-feeding
• Pushing
• Failing to provide medical attention when necessary

Emotional Abuse

While physical abuse of a nursing home resident often leaves tell-tale marks, emotional abuse can be harder to detect. Sometimes an elderly victim may know what is happening, but may not report it because they believe that is just the way things are in nursing homes.

However, emotional abuse is not okay, and the person doing it can be liable for damages just as they would be if they were committing physical violence. Here are some common types of emotional abuse in nursing homes:

• Insults or demeaning remarks
• Emotional manipulation
• Isolation
• Threats
• Intentionally stirring up conflict between residents

Sexual Abuse

While rapes and sexual assault are the most egregious forms of elder sexual abuse, your loved one can be a victim of sexual abuse even if no physical contact has taken place. Sexual abuse can include actions such as indecent exposure, propositions, crude remarks, and even jokes.

Financial Abuse

We have seen many cases where nursing home staff members have supplemented their income either by cajoling vulnerable residents into giving them money, adding them to their will, or authorizing them to use their credit cards. In other cases, we have seen outright stealing from residents. We take financial abuse seriously and will aggressively pursue the responsible party or parties for full damages.

Nursing Home Neglect

Nursing home residents often need round-the-clock care — that is why they are there. When a caregiver or facility fails to provide the level of care that a resident needs, they are guilty of neglect. Actions that may constitute nursing home neglect include a failure to:

• Provide regular meals or adequate hydration
• Assist with bathing
• Clean the resident’s clothes or bed sheets
• Ensure the patient takes their medications on schedule

You are your loved one’s eyes and ears, so you should make sure to keep them wide open whenever you are visiting or speaking with your loved one. Always keep an eye out for the following signs of abuse or neglect:

• Unexplained physical injuries, such as bruises, cuts, and scrapes;
• Sudden changes in personality
• Bedsores;
• Trauma to the genital region;
• Poor hygiene, including dirty clothes, dirty bedsheets, or an unkempt or disheveled appearance;
• Fear or apprehension toward a specific caregiver;
• Unexplained credit card charges;
• Missing money;
• Changes in medication.

Remember, it is better to speak up and be wrong than to remain silent while your loved one suffers.

If you believe your loved one might be suffering abuse or neglect at the hands of a caretaker at their Nashville nursing home, take the following actions:

• If you suspect immediate danger, call 911;
• Report your suspicions to the direct supervisor of the person you think is responsible (if you believe the supervisor is responsible, skip this step);
• Contact the local police and file a report;
• Call 1-888-APS-TENN to report your suspicions to Tennessee’s Adult Protective Services;
• Contact Hughes & Coleman Injury Lawyers to set up a free consultation to learn about your options for protecting your loved one and seeking justice on their behalf.