Deciding to place a loved one in a nursing home—or making the choice to move into one yourself—is often an emotional and difficult process. It means trusting a facility to provide the care and support needed for you or your loved one. When that trust is broken by nursing home abuse, the impact goes beyond physical pain—it leaves deep emotional scars. Victims may experience fear, shame, and helplessness, while family members often feel guilt and regret over their decision.
If you suspect neglect or abuse, you are not powerless. Start by reporting the abuse to the New Jersey Department of Health’s 24-hour hotline at 1-800-792-9770. Then, contact a Piscataway nursing home abuse lawyer from Fredson Statmore Bitterman, LLC, to take legal steps and protect your rights.
Why Discovering Nursing Home Abuse Can Be Challenging
When someone goes into a nursing home, they may have physical, emotional, or communication challenges that can make detecting abuse more difficult. If the abuse is the result of systemic failures, like a lack of adequate staffing, then the facility is likely to cover up evidence of abuse or neglect. If the abuse is by a staff member, the facility may move them to another facility or fire them, but they are still unlikely to report neglect to family members.
As a result, many family members do not find out about abuse or neglect until the evidence is obvious. Even then, they may not learn about the cause of the injury. For example, broken bones from falls can be evidence of neglect, but falls can also occur in a well-supervised facility. Linking the injuries to abuse can be challenging.
It is vital for family members to keep in mind that—once people suspect abuse or neglect—the nursing home is no longer on their side. They have an interest in minimizing liability and protecting themselves. As a result, they may even go so far as to misreport incidents or attempt to deny family members access to their loved ones. If a nursing home’s explanations of injuries seem implausible or if they make it difficult to see a loved one, a Piscataway nursing home abuse attorney can help.
Understanding Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
People often speak of nursing home abuse and neglect together. While both are harmful to vulnerable adults, they often have different causes, different symptoms, and different solutions. Understanding these two types of mistreatment can help family members know the signs and give them some idea of how to approach a solution.
Neglect refers to failing to take care of a resident’s essential needs. It is a subtle form of abuse, which can make it more difficult to detect. It can come in the form of failing to properly feed, clothe, hydrate, medicate, or clean a nursing home resident. Any evidence that a nursing home resident is not being bathed regularly their hair or teeth are not brushed, or they are in dirty clothing is a warning sign for potential neglect. Bed sores—also known as pressure sores or pressure ulcers—are a sign that someone is not being turned or moved frequently enough.
Surprisingly, physical abuse can be just as subtle. Evidence of physical abuse, such as bruises, fractures, cuts, and emotional distress, may be passed off as secondary to a loved one’s overall condition. Plus, if a loved one has dementia or other cognitive issues, they may be unable to report abuse. Families may need to investigate on their own to prove their suspicions by working with a Piscatway attorney who handles nursing home abuse.
Talk With a Piscataway Nursing Home Abuse Attorney
If you suspect nursing home abuse, the most important thing is to ensure your loved one is safe. What steps you need to take depends on the type and severity of abuse. In some circumstances, it may mean immediately relocating your family member and calling the police, while in others, it may mean simply talking to the facility. If you are unsure where to start, a Piscataway nursing home abuse lawyer can help. Schedule a free consultation to learn more.
