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One of the most insidious aspects of nursing home residents being mistreated is how hard it can be for even attentive and loving family members to know that anything is wrong in the first place. On top of the fact that abusers often go to great lengths to hide what they are doing from public view, the targets of their abuse may be afraid to report what is going on for fear of retaliation. Victims may also be cognitively impaired to the point that they cannot clearly communicate what is happening to them.
With all that in mind, it can be crucial for the loved ones of nursing home residents to know what abuse or neglect in this type of facility can look like so they can take immediate action if their family member is being mistreated. Here are some of the more common warning signs of nursing home abuse in Philadelphia that the experienced nursing home abuse lawyers at Lowenthal & Abrams often see and can help you file suit over.
Physical Symptoms of Abuse-Related Injuries
Of course, obvious injuries such as broken arms and deep cuts or bruises are always worth checking up on if a family member sustains them while living in a nursing home. However, you should also be on the lookout for small cuts and bruises around the wrists and ankles, as those may be signs of improper use of restraints. Likewise, repeated small injuries without obvious explanations can be subtle warning signs of repeated abuse inside a Philadelphia nursing facility.
Shifts in Mental State
Changes in medications, responses to new neighbors or local events, or simply the massive shift in lifestyle that moving into a nursing home entails can all make a nursing home resident behave somewhat differently than they used to. That said, any nursing home resident in Philadelphia who suddenly regresses to childlike behaviors such as thumb-sucking, experiences severe depression, or gets incredibly anxious around specific staff members or fellow residents may be displaying symptoms of abuse or neglect.
Unexpected Changes to Legal Documents
One of the least obvious—but often most consequential—signs that a nursing home resident in Philadelphia is being abused or taken advantage of is a sudden change in their estate planning documents. This can be an indicator that facility staff members are manipulating them into making decisions that go against their personal wishes. Other red flags include unexpected cash withdrawals from a resident’s bank accounts or seemingly out-of-character financial decisions.
Unusual Behavior From Facility Staff
Finally, it should be noted that many abusers in Philadelphia nursing facilities are not as skilled at hiding their own misconduct as they may think and that sometimes an abuser’s own behavior can be the most telling sign that something is wrong. While not every awkward response to a question or asocial trait is automatically a sign of misconduct, a staff member who refuses to let residents be alone with visitors or is extremely evasive when answering questions may be cause for concern.
Speak With a Philadelphia Attorney About Warning Signs of Nursing Home Abuse
As a younger family member of a nursing home resident, you may be the strongest and most capable advocate that your loved one has in their corner. Accordingly, it is important that you know what the early warning signs of nursing home abuse in Philadelphia look like, as well as what you can do both to protect your family member from further mistreatment and to get them fair financial restitution for harm they have already sustained.
You have support available to you in both regards from the capable and compassionate nursing home abuse attorneys at Lowenthal & Abrams. Call today to discuss your legal options.
