At some point in your life, you may have to decide whether to put your mom or dad in a nursing home. It’s not an easy decision to make. We try to care for them as long as we can. But at a certain point, we have to admit that it’s just too much for us. We aren’t trained on how to do this. We need to turn to a professional.
The hardest thing about placing out loved one in a nursing home is we feel guilty. We pray that the people at the home will take good care of our mom or dad. The hardest thing we ever do is move them into the home. When we leave, we pray that they’re in good hands.
So when we find out that our loved one is being mistreated, we’re angry. We start to second guess our decision. We’re also mad that the people paid to take care of them failed to protect them. In fact, it’s usually the people paid to take care of our loved ones that cause the abuse.
If your loved one has been hurt while in a nursing home, you need to call a personal injury lawyer in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.
There are Several Types of Abuse
You’d be surprised at how many different types of nursing home abuse there are. Abuse doesn’t always involve physical abuse. There are types of abuse that are a lot harder to spot. This is why it’s so important that you visit your loved on as much as possible.
Some of the most common types of abuse include:
- Emotional abuse and neglect – It’s hard to imagine someone treating an older person so poorly. Sadly, it happens more often than you may think. For nursing home residents, they already feel like they’re a burden. The nurses and doctors treat them like they’re a nuisance. When nursing home employees ignore and yell at their patients, it’s considered emotional abuse.
- Financial abuse – Surprisingly, financial abuse happens to the elderly a lot. Staff members may steal the patients’ physical belongings. Or they take their money and valuables. Often times, employees convince residents to give them access to their debit card of checking account. They start out by taking a few dollars at a time. Within weeks or month, you notice that thousands of dollars are missing. This is financial abuse.
- Sexual Abuse – most people have a hard time even thinking about sexual abuse of an elderly person. It takes a real monster to do something like this. Sometimes it’s done by the employees. Other times it’s at the hands of other residents. Either way, the nursing home has an obligation to keep your loved one safe.
If your loved one has been the victim of any kind of abuse, call and speak with a Fort Walton Beach personal injury attorney.
Fort Walton Beach Personal Injury Attorneys Handle Neglect Cases
Abuse isn’t the only injustice the elderly suffer in a nursing home. Many residents are the victims of nursing home neglect. Nurses and aides are supposed to take care of their patients. Some do a much better job than others.
When nursing staff are incompetent or just don’t care, their patients suffer. Some of the more common types of nursing home neglect include:
- Bedsores
- Poor hygiene
- Failure to administer medications as prescribed
- Lack of treatment
- Ignore call buttons
If your loved one is experiencing any of these, they’re entitled to compensation. It’s important that you talk to your loved one often to make sure they’re okay. Older people sometimes are afraid to complain about their treatment. They don’t want to be a burden to their children.
When you do visit, there are a few things to look out for. Some of these things are:
- They're losing weight
- They are unkempt and soiled
- They're withdrawn and unusually quiet
- They complain that they’re not getting their medicine
- They come right out and tell you what’s going on
- They have bruises or bed sores
If you notice any of these things, call a Fort Walton Beach attorney right away.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer in Fort Walton Beach, Florida
If your loved one isn’t being treated right at a nursing home, you need to do a few things. First, get them transferred to a different nursing home as soon as possible. Second, call and speak with a personal injury attorney in Fort Walton Beach.
You can schedule your free initial consultation today. Your loved one is entitled to compensation.