| Nursing Home Abuse/Neglect has become a | | | | through verbal or nonverbal acts. It can |
| scary epidemic found in many countries. | | | | be verbal assaults, insults, threats, |
| An elderly person needs constant | | | | intimidation, humiliation, and/or |
| attention and is therefore, entrusted to | | | | harassment. In addition, it is |
| a nursing home which is supposed to take | | | | considered abuse to treat a capable |
| care of their needs. Residents at these | | | | resident as an child, giving the |
| nursing homes are paying for the service | | | | resident a "silent treatment", or |
| and receive a very poor service in | | | | isolating them from his/her family, |
| return. Their needs are ignored and they | | | | friends, or even regular activities. |
| are not treated with respect. Some might | | | | Neglect This is defined as the refusal |
| even die because of negligence. This | | | | by the worker to fulfill his or her |
| unfortunately has been growing and it | | | | obligations to the resident of a nursing |
| can be very hard to prove this abuse. It | | | | home. It includes failing to give |
| is usually covered up by the staff at | | | | necessary care such as food, water, |
| nursing homes. | | | | fresh clothing, personal hygiene, |
| There have been plenty of research done | | | | medicine, safety or even comfort. |
| privately and by the government about | | | | Abandonment, is also very serioius. |
| the danger and abuse that people can | | | | Abandonment is basicly the desertion of |
| suffer in a nursing home. In 1997, Time | | | | a nursing home resident by a nursing |
| Magazine suggested that as many as | | | | home worker who has assumed |
| 35,000 Americans were dying before their | | | | responsibility for providing care for |
| time, or suffering unnecessary pain. | | | | the resident in question. |
| There are different types of abuse: | | | | Financial or Material Exploitation This |
| Physical Abuse This causes a body | | | | is the illegal or improper use of funds, |
| injury, physical pain, or impairment. | | | | property or assets of a nursing home |
| Some of the more common practices of | | | | resident. It can be cashing a resident's |
| physical abuse include striking, with or | | | | checks without permission, forging a |
| without an object, hitting, beating, | | | | signature, stealing money or any other |
| pushing, shoving, shaking, slapping, | | | | belonging, deceiving so that a resident |
| kicking, pinching, and also burning. | | | | may sign any document (contracts or |
| There is also the unnessessary use of | | | | will), and the improper use of |
| drugs and physical restraints, | | | | guardianship, or power of attorney. |
| force-feeding, and physical punishment | | | | There have been plenty of lawsuits to |
| that also fall under the physical abuse | | | | combat these people who take advantage |
| criteria. | | | | of the most vulnerable. Unfortunately, |
| Sexual Abuse Sexual abuse is a | | | | nursing home abuse is still a threat |
| nonconsensual sexual contact of any kind | | | | today and it must be acted upon. The |
| with a nursing home resident. Sexual | | | | message must be sent that these crimes |
| abuse can be anything from unwanted | | | | will not go unpunished. If you or anyone |
| touching, sexual assault, rape, sodomy, | | | | you know has encountered any of these |
| coerced nudity or even nude photography. | | | | types of abuses, it is imperative to |
| Emotional or Psychological Abuse This is | | | | file a complaint in order to prevent any |
| inflicting anguish, pain, or distress | | | | further abuse from taking place. |