Personal Injury
Putting an elderly person into a nursing home is never an easy decision to make.
When it’s the best option for them, you want to make sure they’re receiving the best care possible. Unfortunately, far too many people make the realization that the people they expected to care for their loved one is abusing them.
While most people reasonably expect the nursing homes or assisted living facilities they trust with their relatives to take care of them, the truth of the matter is that they can quickly become the victim of elder abuse through negligence or intentional harm. This harm can take many forms, from physical violence to emotional distress, and these abuses can be deeply hurtful and traumatic to victims of any age, many of which are simply innocent bystanders who need the assistance these facilities can provide to maintain a comfortable life in their elder years.
Anyone can suffer abuse or an accident, but senior citizens are sadly more vulnerable to being neglected, injured, or taken advantage of. This abuse is a tragically common occurrence, and the signs of it happening can be difficult to identify.
1 in 10
people over 60 suffer from elder abuse
Types of elder abuse
Elder abuse is similar to domestic abuse in that it can take many forms, both physically visible and otherwise. Some of the commonly recognized forms of elder abuse can include:
- Physical abuse
- Withholding of medication
- Forcefully providing too much medication
- Sexual abuse
- Emotional and psychological abuse
- Neglect of the elderly
Not only can these forms of abuse take their physical toll, they can begin to lead to greater psychological issues down the road and can have a serious impact on the mental and physical well-being of your elderly loved ones.
Common injuries from elder abuse include
Warning signs of elder abuse
Many perpetrators of elderly abuse take steps to hide their actions, whether it be from neglect at the nursing home or specific, directed abuse of a specific senior citizen. By keeping an eye out for the telltale signs of trauma and abuse, you may be in a better position to help your loved ones. These signs can include:
- Sudden changes in personality or behavior
- Evidence of restraining devices
- The inability to be seen alone without attendants from the facility present
- Unexplained injuries or diseases
- Agitation or emotional distance
- Open wounds or bruises
- Inconsistencies with their personal finances/insurance payments
If these or similar injuries are commonly present on your elderly relatives, or if the care facility they live in has displayed untrustworthy behavior, your loved one may be the victim of elder abuse.
Contact a Los Angeles elder abuse lawyer
From physical abuse to mental trauma, and even financial mismanagement, The Wallace Firm can help you protect your loved ones from elder abuse. This unimaginable situation is more common than you may think, and our compassionate lawyers have the knowledge and skill you need to pursue financial compensation from the nursing home responsible for their injuries and mistreatment. Contact The Wallace Firm today with the details of your elder abuse case, and our attorneys will be by your side through every step of the process until justice can be delivered.