One of the issues that sometimes comes up with nursing home abuse is that the person who is being abused does not report it. They may not be able to do so. For instance, many elderly individuals have Alzheimer’s or similar conditions that may make it hard for them to report what’s going on.
This really makes it important for family members to know what signs and symptoms they can look for. If your loved one is being abused by caregivers, you may be one of the few people who are going to notice these signs and be able to take action.
What should you look for?
Anything that raises red flags is worth looking into. Trust your gut. If it seems like things are wrong or something is slightly off, don’t ignore it. The symptoms are different in every case. With all that being said, here are some of the common signs of nursing home abuse:
- Your loved one becomes more withdrawn and quiet.
- They go through other types of personality changes.
- They frequently have unexplained injuries.
- They stop taking part in activities that they used to enjoy.
- They begin losing weight with no other obvious cause.
- Their hygiene becomes worse and they seem unkempt.
- There’s damage to items in the room or care facility.
It can be very concerning when you start to see these warning signs around someone that you care for so much. You want them to be treated well, and the staff at the nursing home may have excuses for some of the things that you’re noticing. But you still need to know what legal options you have if you believe abuse is a factor.